Riding on a splendid bowling performance by their pace trio, the Rest of India tightened the noose around Ranji Champions Mumbai by reducing them to 98 for six in their second innings of the Irani Cup in Rajkot on Monday.
Mumbai, who conceded 19 runs first innings lead to Rest of India, were rattled up pacemen Munaf Patel, Ranadeb Bose and Ishant Sharma on day three of the match.
Mumbai is now 79 runs ahead with only four wickets in hand.
Mumbai openers, Sahil Kukreja and Ajinkya Rahane, put on 43 runs for the opening wicket. However, Kukreja, who was run out again, made 14 while Rahane contributed 27.
Patel struck twice in his third over to remove Prashant Naik (13) and first innings centurion Abhishek Nair (8).
Nair started well by smashing two consecutive fours off Patel but then offered a simple catch to Aakash Chopra in slips.
Then Ramesh Powar could not open his account.
Patel, who was struggling to get his rhythm in the first innings and went without a wicket, was the pick of the bowlers for the Rest of India in the second edition, grabbing three wickets conceding 19 runs in his six overs.
Bose and Sharma took one wicket each for 42 and 29 runs respectively.
Wasim Jaffer (21, 56b, 2x4) and Ajit Agarkar (7) were at the crease when stumps were drawn for the day.
Resuming at their overnight score 292 for 4, Rest of India managed to take a slender lead over Mumbai.
Parthiv Patel added another 18 runs to his tally before exiting. He made 179 off 225 balls with 27 fours.
However, Manoj Tiwary's composed knock of 130 helped RoI get past Mumbai's first innings score of 453.
Tiwary spent 274 minutes at the crease and faced 184 balls, cracking 12 fours and five sixes. He got useful support from Munaf Patel 31 (55b, 4x4) and Ranadeb Bose 19 (71b, 1x4).
For Mumbai, medium pacer Rajesh Verma captured five for 97 while left-arm leg spinner Iqbal Abdullah took 3 for 100.
Brief scores: Mumbai 453 and 98 for 6 (Ajinkya Rahane 27, Wasim Jaffer batting 21, Munaf Patel 3-19) against the Rest of India 472.
