Srinagar, Oct 18 (NationPress) Left-arm spinner Shams Mulani delivered an extraordinary performance with a seven-wicket haul, guiding Mumbai to a 35-run triumph against Jammu & Kashmir during the opening round of the Ranji Trophy at the Sher-e-Kashmir Stadium in Srinagar on Saturday.

On the final day of this Elite Group-D match, the home side resumed at 21 for one, needing to chase down 243 runs, but were ultimately dismissed for 207, marking Mumbai's inaugural victory over J&K in three encounters.

Mulani's remarkable bowling figures of 20.4-4-46-7 showcased his skill and poise on a pitch that offered unpredictable turn. J&K seemed to stabilize when Qamran Iqbal and Paras Dogra forged a 53-run partnership for the third wicket. However, Mumbai's captain Shardul Thakur made a strategic move by introducing spinners Mulani and Tanush Kotian, which shifted the momentum decisively.

A rare moment of drama unfolded when, in the 26th over, Qamran was given out for obstructing the field after he used his hand to block a throw from Sarfaraz Khan. Following a heated discussion, Mumbai retracted their appeal, allowing him to continue. However, this reprieve was short-lived, as Mulani soon bowled Dogra with a delivery that penetrated his defense.

Before lunch, Kotian sent Abdul Samad back to the pavilion, while Mulani dismissed Kanhaiya Wadhawan, leaving J&K struggling at 127 for five in 41 overs. The downfall continued after the break, with Mulani striking again in just the second over of the session, spinning a delivery past Qamran Iqbal’s bat to hit the off stump. He quickly followed this by taking out Abid Mushtaq, who misplayed a shot to Sarfaraz at midwicket, and then dismissed Yudhvir Singh with a brilliant delivery, completing his five-wicket haul.

Despite a valiant effort from Auqib Nabi, who hit two sixes during a spirited last-wicket partnership of 30 runs with Umar Nazir, Mulani fittingly concluded the match by trapping Nazir leg-before, ending the innings at 207.