An inspired Maharashtra denies Mumbai an outright win

In the other match played at Nehru Stadium in Pune between Maharashtra and Mumbai there was no result other than a draw as time ran out on a positive Mumbai side. Maharashtra won the toss and asked Mumbai to have the first go with the bat. Mumbai captain Vinayak Mane and Swapnoj Thankur put on 72 runs for the first wicket. Swapnoj (31) was dismissed by K Khadkikar. Vinit Indulkar and Vinayak Mane put on 91 runs for the second wicket. Vinayak Mane missing out on a deserving hundred as he was dismissed for 98 made in 148 balls. His innings included 13 boundaries and two clear hits over the ropes. Vinit Indulkar (51) made his exit at the Mumbai score reading 200. He had hit eight boundaries in his 112 ball innings. Sangram Bagul and Bhavin Thakkar added 129 for the fourth wicket. Bagul made 68 with six fours and Bhavin Thakkar made 79 in 95 balls with eight boundaries. Mumbai couldn't add on to the brilliant foundation as they were bowled out for 406 in 109.4 overs. Sinoj Panikker remained unbeaten on 51 made of 57 balls with six boundaries. K Adhav and K Khadikkar were the pick of Maharashtra bowlers picking three wickets each.

Mumbai bowlers put the brakes on the Maharashtra first innings by picking up wickets at regular intervals. They did not allow Maharasthra batsmen to settle down and bundled them out for 247 in 90.5 overs. Aditya Kulkarni picked up 3 for 50 in 25 overs. For Maharashtra, Rohan Drawat made an unbeaten 66 of 143 balls with ten boundaries. There were useful contributions from Shirish Kamathe (40) and K Khadkikar (44).

Mumbai promptly asked Mahrashtra to follow on. Mumbai tasted first blood in the second over when U Karkera had Virag Awate lbw for a duck. Mumbai made heavy inroads as they had Maharashtra reeling at 17-4 in the thirteenth over. Mumbai had an outright victory at their sights as Avishkar Salvi picking up three wickets in a burst. In the 37th over opener Shirish Kamathe was run out for 34 pushing Maharashtra deeper into trouble 84/5. It all seemed to be lost when wicket keeper Yogesh Takawale was dismissed for 41 by Vinayak Mane. Maharashtra had lost all hope at 89/6 in the 40th over. As they say, "It ain't over till it is over", Mahrashtra batsmen Amit Thakur and captain C Kulkarni put together an unbeaten partnership of 78 in 34.5 overs and denied Mumbai a victory. Amit Thakur made 34 in 117 balls with four boundaries and C Kularni made 41 in 107 balls including eight boundaries. For Mumbai Avishkar bowled his heart out to end with the figures of 12-3-37-3. Mumbai picked up five points and Maharashtra went home with a honourable three points.