The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Munaf, Parthiv shine in Rest of India’s victory

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Wednesday, Oct 10, 2007
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Munaf, Parthiv shine in Rest of India’s victory

G. Viswanath

— File Photo

Parthiv Patel.

Rajkot: Munaf Patel turned out to be Mumbai’s nemesis for the second time in two years and paved the way for Rest of India to win the Irani Cup three quarters of an hour before the lunch interval at the Madhavrao Scindia Stadium here on Tuesday.

In peak form in the 2005-06 season, he had bruised Mumbai with a nine-wicket haul and helped Maharashtra record a dream victory over its arch-rival at the Wankhede Stadium.

In full control of his rhythm and skill after tea break on the third day, the strapping seamer began the proceedings on Tuesday making Wasim Jaffer distrait for a few seconds before knocking down his off-stump in the fourth ball of the morning.

Munaf then removed the last man Rajesh Verma to bring an end to Mumbai’s second innings in a mere 16 minutes from its overnight 98 for six wickets.

Honest effort

It was an honest effort from Patel, especially after failing to get any credits in the first innings when Mumbai made 453.

On a wicket that had no demon in it, but showed a distinct bias to the determined fellows willing to bend their back and extract lift, the Maharashtra seamer with over 100 first class wickets, used the short balls to dismiss Jaffer, Muzumdar, Powar and Verma.

It was his first five-wicket collection in twenty two months. His previous such efforts had come against Railways and Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy and twice for the Board President’s XI against England at Baroda.

The Rest seamers, Ishant Sharma and Patel, gave no mental peace to a crestfallen opponent that had faltered and conceded the first innings lead.

The downfall of the Mumbai batsmen — three were caught in the cordon, two by the wicketkeeper, two were bowled, one fell leg before and one caught within the centre square — was an indication of the probing and effective line adhered to by Patel, Sharma and Bose.

The century-maker in the first innings Parthiv Patel lashed out again to remain undefeated on 60 as his side crossed the finishing line in under 19 overs.

The BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah presented the Irani Cup to Rest skipper Mohammad Kaif.

The Rest players will receive their share of Rs. 10 lakhs for winning the one-match competition.

The scores:

Mumbai — 1st innings: 453

Rest of India — 1st innings: 472

Mumbai — 2nd innings: S. Kukreja (run out) 14, A. Rahane c Chopra b Sharma 27, W. Jaffer b M. Patel 25, A. Muzumdar c Chopra b Bose 4, P. Naik lbw b M. Patel 13, A. Nayar c Chopra b M. Patel 8, R. Powar b M. Patel 0, A. Agarkar (not out) 11, I. Abdulla c Mishra b Sharma 0, O. Gurav c P. Patel b Sharma 0, R. Verma c P. Patel b M. Patel 0, Extras (lb-1, nb-3): 4, Total (in 33.3 overs): 106.

Fall of wickets: 1-43, 2-43, 3-50, 4-74, 5-82, 6-82, 7-103,8-104, 9-105

Rest of India bowling: Bose 11-1-42-1, Sharma 11-3-31-3, Mishra 4-1-7-0, Patel 7.3-2-25-5.

Rest of India — 2nd Innings: A. Chopra st. Gurav b Abdulla 7, P. Patel (not out) 60, M. Kaif (not out) 22, Extras (lb-1, nb-1): 2, Total (for one wkt. in 18.5 overs): 91

Fall of wicket: 1-49

Mumbai bowling: Agarkar 3.5-0-31-0, Verma 3-0-29-0, Nayar 6-1-11-0, Abdulla 6-0-19-1.

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