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Mumbai stay afloat with innings win
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December 27, 2006 17:53 IST

Former champions Mumbai, who had failed to gain any points in three earlier games, bounced back impressively whipping Gujarat by an innings and 163 runs with more than a day to spare in their four-day Ranji Trophy Elite Division Group B match in Mumbai on Wednesday.

Spinners Nilesh Kulkarni and Ramesh Powar [Images], who shared 18 wickets between them, spun a web around the clueless, leaden-footed Gujarat batsmen to bundle the visitors out for 147 and 193 runs respectively in the two innings.

Kulkarni took 10 wickets, including six in the first innings, while the short-statured Powar foxed the batsmen with flight to take eight scalps, five of which came in the second innings.

Gujarat, who started the third day at 118 for five in the first innings in reply to Mumbai's massive 503 for seven declared, lost the last five wickets quickly.

Following on, they went one down in their second essay before lunch.

Opener Azhar Bilakhiya was the lone batsman to defy the two spinners in making an attractive 88 in the second innings while the other batsmen struggled to cope with the duo as Gujarat folded up for the second time, 21 minutes from close.

The thumping victory gave Mumbai, facing relegation before the tie, five points (including a bonus point) with two matches in hand against Rajasthan (at home from Jan 2) and Maharashtra (at Nasik, from Jan 10).

Gujarat remained at four from as many ties.


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