Mumbai take firm grip

Adopting a methodical approach, Mumbai had taken a firm grip on their Ranji Trophy Super League match against reigning champions Karnataka by stumps on the second day at the M Chinnaswamy stadium on Sunday. Replying to Karnataka's first innings score of 209, Mumbai replied with 322 for eight wickets at close.

Having obtained an advantage on the opening day by dismissing Karnataka for a modest total, Mumbai consolidated, thanks to invaluable contributions from their first three batsmen, Wasim Jaffer, Amit Pagnis and Jatin Paranjpe, and Mumbai received a bonus when No 8 batsman RV Pawar hit a bright 45.

Jaffer and Pagnis countered the varied Karnataka attack of medium pacers Dodda Ganesh and Mansoor Ali Khan and spinners Sunil Joshi and Yalvigi with some fine batting. The openers put on 125 runs off 40.2 overs before Jaffer, the more aggressive of the two was out for 72. He faced 125 balls and hit ten of them the ropes.

Joshi then brought Karnataka back into the game when in successive overs, he dismissed Pagnis (54 off 135 balls with seven fours) and Amol Muzumdar (0). Vinod Kambli, in buoyant mood, hit a breezy 22 off 20 balls with one four and two sixes. Joshi then dismissed skipper Sameer Dighe (11) and Amit Dani (4) in successive overs and Karnataka had recovered some ground by reducing Mumbai, after their great start, to 214 for six.

However Pawar and Paranjpe retreived Mumbai's hopes of a sizeable lead by adding 93 runs for the seventh wicket off 22.5 overs. Pawar matched Paranjpe in run production and faced 65 balls hitting eight fours. Ganesh took two wickets towards the end of the day's play but Paranjpe could not be shifted and came in unconquered with 93 at stumps. He has so far faced 170 balls and hit 13 fours.

Ganesh and Joshi were the two bowlers who kept the Mumbai batsmen in check somewhat. The paceman was rewarded with three for 93 off 29 overs while the left arm spinner bowled 34 overs to capture four wickets for 101.