Ranji Trophy 2013-14: Mumbai’s batting collapse gives Gujarat advantage

Mumbai suffer batting collapse against Gujarat

Valsad: Dec 30, 2013 

Former champions Mumbai suffered an unexpected batting collapse to be all out for 154 against Gujarat on day one of their final Group Ranji Trophy match.

After deciding to bat, Mumbai were 74 for six at one stage and had it not been for some gritty batting by Iqbal Abdulla (30) down the order, the visitors would have struggled to cross the 100-run mark.

Abdulla was the second-highest run scorer after opener Kaustubh Pawar, who managed 37 off 150 balls with six shots to the fence.

Left-arm spinner Akshar Patel was the most successful bowler for Gujarat with three scalps for 32 runs while Ishwar Chaudhary (2 for 54) and Jasprit Bumrah (2 for 36) took two wickets each.

In reply, the host were a strong 90 for two with opener Samit Gohel (36) batting solid from one end.

Gujarat lost opener Smit Patel (11) cheaply, bowled by Bhargav Thakur, and later on Bhargav Merai, who was well set on 37 before being caught by Shah off Abdulla.

Brief scores:

Mumbai 154 (Kaustubh Pawar 37, Iqbal Abdulla 30; Akshar Patel 3 for 32) lead Gujarat 90 for 2 (Bhargav Merai 37, Samit Gohel 36* ; Iqbal Abdulla 1 for 25) by 64 runs.