Kulkarni, Mulani and Kotian share bowling honors as Uttarakhand lost by 725 for 69
Kulkarni, Mulani and Kotian share bowling honors as Uttarakhand lost by 725 for 69
For the second time in as many days, the Uttarakhand batsmen were found clueless to guide the 41-time champions organization to a record 725-run victory in their Ranji Trophy quarter-finals on the fourth day at Alur Cricket Ground 2 against Mumbai attack.
After Mumbai declared their second essay on their nightly score of 261 for three, Uttarakhand were set an unrealistic target of 795 runs. After going for just 41 overs in their first innings, the Uttarakhand batsmen would have expected the game to extend to the fifth day. Instead, the Mumbai bowlers looted them in the first session as Uttarakhand were bowled out for 69 just before lunch.
The margin of victory – 725 runs – was the highest in the history of first-class cricket, replacing New South Wales’ victory over Queensland in 1929–30 by 685 runs. In Ranji Trophy, the previous highest margin of victory by runs was 540 runs.
Only two batsmen from Uttarakhand, Kunal Chandela at number three and wicketkeeper Shivam Khurana could reach double figures. Others bowled too hot for Mumbai to handle. Dhawal Kulkarni started with a quick spell, Shams Mulani broke his middle order back and Tanush Kotian wriggled the tail in no time to give Mumbai a win with five seasons to go.
Kulkarni dropped Kamal Singh’s stumping off a stump that hit the middle stump, swinging through the gap between the left-hander’s bat and pad. He then swung another back in right-hander Jai Bista to hand a pair to his former teammate, who was leading Uttarakhand.
battle of giants
Uttarakhand were in danger of repeating their mediocre first innings performance when Kulkarni won the battle of the giants by fielding Robin Bisht.
After bowling four outswingers, Kulkarni bowled a ball down leg and chased it down with a perfect inswinger to watch the off-stump cartwheeling.
In the next over, Mohit Awasthi swung past Swapnil Singh’s middle stump with an inswinger and handed the reins to the spin duo of Mulani and Kotian to complete the formalities. The game could have been over earlier if Aditya Tare had not shot Chandela down the leg and injured his finger apart from denying Tushar Deshpande a wicket.
The win formalized a thrilling semi-final between Mumbai and Uttar Pradesh at the Just Cricket Academy from June 14.
Score:
Mumbai – 1st Innings: 647/8 December.
Uttarakhand – 1st Innings: 114.
Mumbai – 2nd Innings: 261/3 December
Uttarakhand – 2nd Innings: Kamal Singh b Kulkarni 0, Jai Bista lbw b Kulkarni 0, Kunal Chandela St Tare b Mulani 21, Robin Bisht b Kulkarni 3, Swapnil Singh b Awasthi 0, Dikshanshu Negi c Sarfaraz b Mulani 5, Shivam Khurana (not out) 25, Mayank Mishra c Jaffer b Mulani 0, Akash Madhwal lbw b Kotian 3, Deepak Dhapola c Deshpande b Quotian 6, Aadvansh Tiwary b Quotian 0; Extra (B-1, Lb-4, W-1): 6; Total (in 27.5 overs): 69.
Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-1, 3-15, 4-16, 5-35, 6-36, 7-44, 8-55, 9-69.
Mumbai Bowling: Kulkarni 6-5-11-3, Deshpande 7-2-20-0, Awasthi 4-1-5-1, Mulani 7-4-15-3, Kotian 3.5-0-13-3.