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Muzumdar adds to Tamil Nadu's plight

By Sanjay Rajan

Mumbai's Amol Muzumdar drives Ganapathy. - Photo: N. Balaji

CHENNAI, MARCH 28. The post-tea session on the third day was the decisive phase. If Tamil Nadu was to turn around its fortunes in the five-day Ranji Trophy final, it had to be only then.

At 387 for five, Mumbai was ahead on first innings but there had been a noticeable drop in its level of domination, considering that the visitor had resumed its first innings at 236 without loss. In effect, it meant a lead of just 93 runs with five wickets remaining.

A quick dismissal or two would have had Mumbai under pressure. But the visiting side skipper Sairaj Bahutule (64, 126b, 150m, 7x4, 1x6) and Amol Muzumdar (119, 236b, 369m, 15x4, 1x6) — who became the third century-maker of the innings — provided no avenues, putting on 131 for the unfinished sixth wicket.

At the Chidambaram Stadium on Sunday, defending champion Mumbai was 513 for five at stumps and well on way to its 36th trophy triumph. Unless Tamil Nadu comes up with something extraordinary, it must rest content with the runner-up position for the second successive season.

The host's inadequacy in the bowling department surfaced again. The side would rue not playing a specialist off-spinner — the minimum variety a team is expected to possess — especially when part-timer Badrinath picked up the wickets of left-handers Vinod Kambli and Manoj Joglekar.

It was Badrinath who kept things tight along with mediumpacers Shrinivas and Ganapathy during the period before tea. The trio conceded just 18 runs in 16 overs before the run drought got to Kambli. The left-hander, who was toying with the attack, was caught at point after a well-made 55 (109b, 172m, 7x4).

In hindsight, skipper Suresh could have introduced Badrinath earlier. Kambli, who was fluent and furious during his stay, put on 113 for the fourth wicket with Muzumdar.

To a great extent, it was he who helped Mumbai recover after the initial jolt of losing the openers, Wasim Jaffer and Vinayak Mane, in quick succession to the mediumpace of Suresh.

Muzumdar and Bahutule batted positively during the post-tea session. As coach Chandrakant Pandit said, "We needed runs on the board so as to stop Tamil Nadu from coming back. We had to recover after having been bogged down between drinks and tea."

Muzumdar batted with authority, using his feet impressively against the spinners. It was his second century of the season and 13th in the National championship. This was his second century in a Ranji final after a forgettable run last season.

"The time I spent in the Minor League in England helped tremendously," he said.

The growing frustration in the fielding team after losing the initiative in the post-tea session was evident when Ganapathy, who bowled with a large heart, got into a confrontation with Muzumdar. "It was nothing, just the heat of the moment," said Bahutule.

Mumbai intends to declare after the first hour tomorrow. "A lead of 250 plus and we will try for an outright win," Pandit said.

The scores:

Tamil Nadu — 1st innings: 294.

Mumbai — 1st innings: V. Mane c Kaarthick b Suresh 106, W. Jaffer c & b Suresh 133, B. Thakkar lbw b Ganapathy 9, A. Muzumdar (batting) 119, V. Kambli c Shrinivas b Badrinath 55, M. Joglekar c Kaarthick b Badrinath 0, S. Bahutule (batting) 64; Extras (b-6, lb-3, w-1, nb-17) 27; Total (for five wkts.) 513.

Fall of wickets: 1-243, 2-257, 3-266, 4-379, 5-382.

Tamil Nadu bowling: Ganapathy 27-2-111-1, Shrinivas 22-9-61-0, Ramkumar 35-7-103-0, Suresh 22-4-67-2, Vidyut 34-5-92-0, Sriram 11-2-17-0, Badrinath 17-2-51-2, Badani 2-0-2-0.

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