Mumbai quickly in command

An excellent second day has left Mumbai in a strong position after two days of the Ranji Trophy final.

Mumbai started the day at 303 for 6 and with the match on a relatively even keel, having recovered from early morning and afternoon tremors through the efforts of Vinod Kambli. Though there was some bravado displayed yesterday by the centurion (with his statement that "even 300 is a good score"), an even keel is about all it was after Day One.

On Day Two, however, coach Mankad's two marginal calls at the pre-game selection meeting paid rich dividends.

The first was the only change Bombay had made from their semi-final triumph - picking veteran Paras Mhambrey as the fourth seamer. Once the decision was made to go with four pacemen - a contentious decision in itself - it was obvious that new boy Ramesh Powar would make way. The fourth seamer decision then came down to Sriram Kannan, who had had great success against Karnataka earlier in the season, or Mhambrey, the veteran international who had not bowled a ball for three months due to injury. Despite the obvious fears of match-rust, Mankad went with the veteran - not least because of the added solidity his batting ability would provide to the lower-middle order.

And it was indeed with the bat that Mhambrey made his mark. Coming in at 202/5 on the first afternoon, he held firm in an 80-run innings-recovering and nerve-soothing stand with Vinod Kambli. And on the second morning, he partnered with Ajit Agarkar in another vital 60 run partnership, playing the role of the stodgy anchor. On losing Agarkar, he broke free the shackles and added another 20 with Kuruvilla, before departing for 75 runs, each of them worth their weight in gold to his team and city. And that didn't end his contribution for the day either. Mhambrey combined with wicket-keeper Dighe for the run out of VVS Laxman, probably the most important wicket claimed by Bombay all day, just when the biggest partnership of the day seemed to be taking Hyderabad to a healthy position.

The second selectorial decision by Mankad was made only on the morning of the match, and after much agonizing picking young Rajesh Pawar over Nilesh Kulkarni as the lone spinner of the side. The spinner was expected to be the stock bowler of the side in this game, wheeling away economically while giving the pacemen rest in the sultry conditions - and that has always been the forte of the gangling Kulkarni rather than the diminutive Pawar. Mankad, however, chose to go away from conventional wisdom and with the young tyro.

And once again, the second day of the finals saw Mankad conclusively proved right. Young Pawar took out the dangerous Vanka Pratap (coming off a century in the semi-finals) early, removed Parth Satwalkar after the second biggest partnership of the day had threatened a Hyderabad recovery, and snaffled the usually obdurate Raju near the end. Had skipper Dighe completed a regulation stumping of his opposite number Azharuddin, Pawar's figures might have been even more flattering. In addition, in between taking the wickets, Pawar played his designated role of keeping the runs down - conceding only 44 runs in his 20 overs. He also contributed with his usual exuberance in the field, running back from short-leg to hold a good catch off Ajit Agarkar to give Mumbai its initial breakthrough.

In part due to his two gambles working in such spectacular fashion, Mankad's team finds itself in a happy position after two days of the final. The first innings lead might be irrelevant by itself in a five-day game that looks like it will have a result, but 181 runs is a wonderful cushion to have going into the third day. Mumbai's aim from this point must be clear - to come in on the third day, put up as many runs as possible, taking as long as they like to achieve their goal, and firmly shut the door on their opposition. All the top-order batsmen (bar one) should look at it as a chance to redeem themselves for their first innings performance.

The only worry at the back of the mind will be the fact that the top-order batting has shown an unusual brittleness all season long. From the Mumbai point of view, with the position they are currently in, that brittleness must not be allowed to raise its ugly head now. The driver's seat in the game has been hard-won, and must not be squandered.

Mankad, no doubt, will be humming the tune from a movie produced in his city - "Zindagi maut na ban jaye, sambhalo yaaron". If his batsmen listen and obey, they have the opportunity to bat Hyderabad out of the game.