Mumbai score second win in as many matches
MUMBAI: If Mumbai have been enjoyed a flying start to their Ranji Trophy campaign this season — on Thursday they crushed a listless Hyderabad by an innings and 217 runs at the MCA’s ground in BKC to record their second three-day win on the trot — they must thank their new ‘spin twins’ Shams Mulani and Tanush Kotian.
Like all good bowlers, Mulani and Kotian hunt in a pair. On Day 3, left-arm spinner Mulani took a career-best 7 for 94, as Hyderabad, resuming at 173 for 6, folded up for 214. After Mumbai skipper Ajinkya Rahane asked them to follow on, it was the turn of off-spinner Tanush Kotian to do the damage, as he took 5 for 82, with Mulani scalping 4 for 82 this time to finish with a match haul of 11 for 176.
Left in a spin by this ‘twin assault,’ Hyderabad, who endured a forgettable outing, folded up for 220 in the final session, with only Buddhi Rahul (65, 97b, 10×4, 1×6) offering some fight. To add icing on the Mumbai cake, seamer Mohit Avasthi, running in from deep mid-wicket, took a brilliant diving catch of last man Kartikeya Kak off Kotian.
Sitting pretty at the top of Elite Group B with 13 points after 2 games, Mumbai, who lopped off the bonus point too from here, will now take on Saurashtra at the same venue from December 27. It’s likely that they will have the services of Suryakumar Yadav, who made an 80-ball 90 in this game, for the next match too, before the star bat gets busy with national duty. Thriving on a typical Mumbai red soil pitch where there was a bit of turn and bounce on offer, both Mulani and Kotian were deadly, making the ball kick off from the rough, or beating the batsmen in the air. Many Hyderabad batsmen made the mistake of trying to play them off the backfoot, where they perished easily, being either trapped in front of the stumps or castled.
If Mulani was Mumbai’s ‘main hero’ in this match, Kotian, with match figures of 109 for 6 and a crucial 63 not out, was the team’s top performer in the first game against Andhra.
Talking about his bowling partnership with Kotian, which has given Mumba i a definite edge over other teams in recent times, Mulani said, “He’s (Kotian) bowling very well. In the last match also, he bowled pretty well. He got the Man of the Match. He’s a very crucial par t of the team and he gives a different aspect. His pace is quicker than mine. So, it gives a different aspect altogether. He also uses the rough (area) pretty well. We talk to each other. I give him some advice. He tells me what I need to do. It’s going well. We played two games and scored two outright wins. Both of us got Man of the Match awards.”
For Mulani, the occasion became more special because his father (Zakir) was amongst the spectators at the ground who relished his latest exploits. Thanks to covid, this was the 25-year-old’s first match at home in Mumbai after he took a whopping 45 wickets in just 6 games@16.75 to become the top wicket-taker in a curtailed last season in the Ranji Trophy.
“I think it’s pretty special because I didn’t have a five-wicket haul in Mumbai. So, taking it here in front of everyone, including my father. A lot of people came here to watch the match. It was just pleasing that I could deliver what I’ve been known for in front of them and make them proud,” said the young tweaker.
MUMBAI: If Mumbai have been enjoyed a flying start to their Ranji Trophy campaign this season — on Thursday they crushed a listless Hyderabad by an innings and 217 runs at the MCA’s ground in BKC to record their second three-day win on the trot — they must thank their new ‘spin twins’ Shams Mulani and Tanush Kotian.
Like all good bowlers, Mulani and Kotian hunt in a pair. On Day 3, left-arm spinner Mulani took a career-best 7 for 94, as Hyderabad, resuming at 173 for 6, folded up for 214. After Mumbai skipper Ajinkya Rahane asked them to follow on, it was the turn of off-spinner Tanush Kotian to do the damage, as he took 5 for 82, with Mulani scalping 4 for 82 this time to finish with a match haul of 11 for 176.
Left in a spin by this ‘twin assault,’ Hyderabad, who endured a forgettable outing, folded up for 220 in the final session, with only Buddhi Rahul (65, 97b, 10×4, 1×6) offering some fight. To add icing on the Mumbai cake, seamer Mohit Avasthi, running in from deep mid-wicket, took a brilliant diving catch of last man Kartikeya Kak off Kotian.
Sitting pretty at the top of Elite Group B with 13 points after 2 games, Mumbai, who lopped off the bonus point too from here, will now take on Saurashtra at the same venue from December 27. It’s likely that they will have the services of Suryakumar Yadav, who made an 80-ball 90 in this game, for the next match too, before the star bat gets busy with national duty. Thriving on a typical Mumbai red soil pitch where there was a bit of turn and bounce on offer, both Mulani and Kotian were deadly, making the ball kick off from the rough, or beating the batsmen in the air. Many Hyderabad batsmen made the mistake of trying to play them off the backfoot, where they perished easily, being either trapped in front of the stumps or castled.
If Mulani was Mumbai’s ‘main hero’ in this match, Kotian, with match figures of 109 for 6 and a crucial 63 not out, was the team’s top performer in the first game against Andhra.
Talking about his bowling partnership with Kotian, which has given Mumba i a definite edge over other teams in recent times, Mulani said, “He’s (Kotian) bowling very well. In the last match also, he bowled pretty well. He got the Man of the Match. He’s a very crucial par t of the team and he gives a different aspect. His pace is quicker than mine. So, it gives a different aspect altogether. He also uses the rough (area) pretty well. We talk to each other. I give him some advice. He tells me what I need to do. It’s going well. We played two games and scored two outright wins. Both of us got Man of the Match awards.”
For Mulani, the occasion became more special because his father (Zakir) was amongst the spectators at the ground who relished his latest exploits. Thanks to covid, this was the 25-year-old’s first match at home in Mumbai after he took a whopping 45 wickets in just 6 games@16.75 to become the top wicket-taker in a curtailed last season in the Ranji Trophy.
“I think it’s pretty special because I didn’t have a five-wicket haul in Mumbai. So, taking it here in front of everyone, including my father. A lot of people came here to watch the match. It was just pleasing that I could deliver what I’ve been known for in front of them and make them proud,” said the young tweaker.
