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Outright win for Hyderabad

Principal Correspondent

HYDERABAD: Hyderabad scripted history when it recorded its first outright win over Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy, notching up a nine-wicket win on the final day of the Super League Group `B' match at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium (Uppal) here on Wednesday.

Considering that Hyderabad has earlier taken the first innings lead only once against Mumbai, it was a moment to remember for the host when southpaw Sashank Nag hit the winning boundary off Ramesh Powar in the ninth mandatory over.

When Vinayak Mane (48, 235b, 3x4) and Rohit Sharma (95, 195b, 11x4) were involved in a fighting, fourth wicket stand of 97, it did look like Mumbai would save the match.

Writing on the wall

But, once Mane departed trying to sweep an arm-ball from Ojha, which kept low, to be bowled, hopes of a Mumbai recovery diminished. A lot depended on Rohit Sharma (95, 195b, 11x4) and when medium-pacer Kaushik Reddy struck trapping him leg-before to reduce Mumbai to 197 for six, the writing was on the wall.

It was destined to be Hyderabad's day as even two dropped catches earlier in the day by captain Anirudh Singh did not prove costly.

When Powar swept Ojha straight into the hands of deep square-leg the score read 227 for seven and even a threat of innings defeat stared at Mumbai. But a fighting knock by W.A. Mota (27, 3x4) helped the visitor avoid that embarrassment.

Anxious moments

There was tension in the Hyderabad camp when the defiant K. Waingankar (19 not out, 62b, 2x4) and Swapnil Hazare (0, 18 balls) delayed things and the match went into the mandatory overs.

It was an unfortunate end to the Mumbai innings when Hazare was adjudged caught behind off Ojha when the bat appeared not to be in the line of the ball.

When Hyderabad began the chase, T. Suman was in a belligerent mood hitting Powar and left-arm spinner Nilesh Kulkarni for two huge sixes.

The home team missed the bonus point, which it could have got had had scored a 10-wicket win, when D.B. Ravi Teja was needlessly run-out.

Hyderabad had to be content with four points from the win. It now tops Group B with eight points from four matches while Mumbai is yet to open its account after three matches.

Anirudh Singh attributed the memorable win to team spirit while Mumbai coach Pravin Amre said that Hyderabad deserved to win.

The scores: Mumbai — 1st innings: 115.

Hyderabad — 1st innings: 354.

Mumbai — 2nd innings: V.R. Mane b Ojha 48, S. Marathe lbw b Absolom 16, B.J. Thakkar c&b Absolom 3, A. Mazumdar lbw b Absolom 9, Rohit Sharma lbw b Kaushik Reddy 95, N.S. Shetty st. Khaleel b Ojha 10, R. Powar c Absolom b Ojha 21, W.A. Mota lbw b Kaushik Reddy 27, N.M. Kulkarni c Khaleel b Absolom 0, K. Waingankar (not out) 19, S.P. Hazare c Khaleel b Ojha 0; Extras: (b-13, lb-2, w-5): 20; Total: (in 122.1 overs): 268.

Fall of wickets: 1-35, 2-44, 3-62, 4-159, 5-189, 6-197, 7-227, 8-232, 9-251.

Hyderabad bowling: Kaushik Reddy 25-9-58-2, M.P. Arjun 17-6-24-0, Absolom 25-5-67-4, Ojha 46.1-18-78-4, Arjun Yadav 8-0-18-0, Teja 1-0-8-0.

Hyderabad — 2nd innings: T. Suman (not out) 18, D.B. Ravi Teja (run out) 1, P. Sashank Nag (not out) 14. Total: (for one wkt. in 8.2 overs): 33.

Fall of wicket: 1-8.

Mumbai bowling: Powar 4.2-0-20-0, Nilesh Kulkarni 4-2-13-0.

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