MUMBAI: Shams Mulani's 'midas touch' with the ball at the Narendra Modi Stadium at Ahmedabad has ensured Mumbai a place in the final of the Col CK Nayudu Trophy (for Under-25).
Continuing his brilliant run at the venue, the left-arm spinner took yet another fifer - five for 71 in 23 overs, on Day Three to help Mumbai skittle out Rajasthan for 228 in 61 overs in the second innings of their semifinal on Wednesday.
This was Mulani's eighth five-wicket haul in just five games. Having taken six for 27 in the first innings, Mulani finished with impressive figures of 11 for 98 in the match.
"It was hard work for us today because the wicket was slow. Our pacers did a good job. I'm just trying to do my job. I'm grateful for the wickets that I'm getting," a modest Mulani told TOI from Ahmedabad.
Showering praises on him, Mumbai Under-25 coach Rajesh Pawar said, "He's been in outstanding form. You can see his hunger to perform. Even after taking six wickets in the first innings in this match, he was hungry for more wickets. His attitude and approach towards the game is creditable. The younger players in the team will learn so much upon seeing his work ethic. I've seen such a committed cricketer after a long time."
Mumbai will now play the winners of the other semifinal between Vidarbha and Madhya Pradesh in the final, which will begin from April 24. It has helped Mumbai skipper Jitendra Tamore has won the toss - a crucial factor in all the five games so far.
Brief Scores: Mumbai 288 & 251 (Saksham 66, Shams Mulani 44; S Dhiwan 4-44, M Suthar 4-88) beat Rajasthan 103 & 228 (Puneet Mishra 60, Karan Lamba 30; Shams Mulani 5-71) by 208 runs
Mumbai women's team pips Haryana by 5 runs
Mumbai scored a thrilling five-run win over a Shafali Verma-led Haryana in the Senior Women's T20 Trophy on Tuesday. They've now won both their first two games.
Brief Scores: Mumbai 121-6 in 20 overs (RS Chaudhary 34) beat Haryana 116-9 in 20 overs (Reema Sisodia 36, Sheetal Rana 32)
Ayaz Khan, Shedge help Mumbai take lead
Half-centuries by Ayaz Khan (84, 124b, 10x4, 1x6) and Suryansh Shedge (82 not out, 111b, 11x4, 1x6) helped Mumbai overtake Rajasthan's 363 and gain the all-important 9-run first innings lead on Day Three of their Cooch Behar Trophy (for Under-19) quarterfinal on Wednesday. After Ayaz and Omkar Malekar (45, 130b, 6x4) added 108 for the fourth wicket, a 93-run stand for the seventh wicket between Shedge and Aayush Zimare (38) took Mumbai to 372 for seven.
Brief Scores: Rajasthan 363 vs Mumbai 372-7 (Ayaz Khan 84, Suryansh Shedge 82, Omkar Malekar 45)
