The Hindu : Thakkar, Mane and bad light rescue Mumbai

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Nov 17, 2003

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Sport - Cricket

Thakkar, Mane and bad light rescue Mumbai

By Our Sports Reporter

NEW DELHI NOV. 16. Mumbai was 183 for eight, 16 runs short of Delhi's first innings total, on the second day in their Ranji Trophy Elite Group `A' second round match at the Jamia Millia Ground here on Sunday.

On a wicket that offered extra help to spinners than was expected, Mumbai's famed batting struggled after the opening partnership between Vinayak Mane (52) and Wasim Jaffer (24) broke at the score of 49.

The restoration work carried out by Bhavin Thakkar, batting on 33, and Vinayak Samant (29), saved Mumbai the blushes.

With daylight deteriorating even before the clock stuck four, Mumbai complained of bad light forcing the umpires to suspend the game, 10 overs before the scheduled close.

Thakkar and Nilesh Kulkarni, who is yet to open his account, were at the crease when the stumps were drawn. Mumbai has two wickets in hand and 16 runs to score to at least grab the crucial first innings lead.

Resuming at the overnight total of 15 without loss, opener Mane was given a life in the third over of the day. Mane, yet to score on the second day, nicked an Ashish Nehra delivery, but wicketkeeper Vijay Dahiya fumbled before dropping the ball. Mane made the most of it and patiently grafted the runs in Jaffer's association.

Jaffer was the first to get out when Delhi skipper Mithun Manhas snapped him at the short square leg, off Sarandeep Singh.

The dismissal opened the floodgates as Mumbai's top order batsmen made short visits to the middle. Three more wickets fell in the first session but Mane held on to one end and was batting on 43 when Mumbai took lunch at 95 for four.

Mane duly completed his half-century before Rahul Sanghvi tricked him with an outgoing delivery. Gautam Gambhir completed an easy catch at first slip. Both Sanghvi (three for 64) and Sarandeep Singh (four for 79) bowled a niggling line to further destabilise Mumbai.

At 128 for seven, it seemed Mumbai had its back against the wall. But Thakkar and Vinayak Samant negotiated every ball with patience. The tea break was taken at 171 for seven.

On resumption, speedster Ashish Nehra was introduced from the far end and he managed to trap Samant leg before wicket with a low delivery. Kulkarni joined Thakkar and the two played for two overs before play was halted.

* The scores: Delhi 199 vs Mumbai 183 for eight in 86 overs (Vinayak Mane 52, Bhavin Thakkar batting 33, Sarandeep Singh four for 79, Rahul Sanghvi three for 64).

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