Mumbai and Gujarat settle for tame draw

In a match that witnessed some steller individual performances and tall scores by both teams, Mumbai drew their three day West Zone Under-22 league match at the Middle Income Group Ground in Bandra, Mumbai on Monday.

Opting to bat on the first day, Gujarat put up a fighting total of 334. The innings was held together by a gallant 135 by A Sood in the midst of a fine seven wicket haul by S Kannan. Sood, who came in at the fall of the second wicket, that of his skipper AA Christian (0) - forged a 117-run fifth wicket partnership with H Joshipura (67). Sood was the fifth batsman to be dismissed when he gave a return catch to U Malvi. During a 238-minute stay at the crease, Sood faced 181 balls and found the signboards 23 times. Thereafter, Joshipura added 70 runs for the seventh wicket with VL Parikh. The total was boosted by some wayward bowling by Mumbai as they conceded 44 extras.

In response, Mumbai took a 223-run first innings lead thanks to the centurions K More (117) and A Dhulap (133). At stumps on the second day, Mumbai were 183 for five. More and Dhulap came together for the sixth wicket and added 240 runs off just 47 overs. While More needed 141 balls to reach his century, Dhulap required only 110 balls. The pair was separated when Dhulap was caught by Parikh off Sood. But More kept going until he was finally dismissed with the total on 475, caught by Joshipura off J Patel. Then stumper AM Shetye (50 not out) and MA Khote (61) added 82 runs for the eighth wicket. The fall of Khote prompted the Mumbai skipper HS Shinde to declare the innings at 557 for 8. Gujarat played out the final 15 overs on the final day to score 18 for no loss.