Punjab push Mumbai against the wall

Punjab, by taking an overall lead of 222 runs, pushed holders Mumbai to the wall in their Ranji Trophy quarterfinal encounter at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Thursday. On the third day, Punjab ran through the hosts' line up and then extended the first innings lead of 98 by a further 124 with all their wickets intact. At stumps Punjab openers Ravneet Ricky (47) and Manish Sharma (68) were at the crease.

Resuming at 162 for two in reply to Punjab's 383, Mumbai slumped to 285. Overnight batsmen opener Vinayak Mane and Shriram Kannan took the score to 195. Kannan who came in as night watchman did not add a run to his overnight score of five and was the first to be dismissed in the 64th over. He was caught by Sandeep Sanwal off Sharandeep Singh. Mane then found himself in the middle with his captain Amol Mazumdar. But the prospect of a good partnership was nipped in the bud by Gagandeep Singh. Mane was sent back after being trapped leg before by Gagandeep. During a six hour stay at the crease, Mane faced 244 balls for his 97. His innings was studded with ten boundaries.

Kambli who replaced the Mumbai opener stuck around for just eleven minutes before he was caught by Sanwal off Gagandeep Singh for five. Thereafter there was just a procession of batsmen as Mazumdar kept one end going. He was finally the ninth batsman to be dismissed for 48. He batted patiently for 210 minutes before Yuvraj Singh caught him off the bowling of Sodhi. He faced 123 balls and hit five of them to the ropes. Gagandeep Singh (3 for 51) and Sodhi (3 for 63) were the pick of the bowlers.

The Punjab openers then rubbed salt into Mumbai's wounds. In the 40 overs that were bowled in the innings, the duo plundered 124 runs. Ricky has so far faced 104 balls and hit six boundaries and a six while Sharma has faced 139 balls. During the course of the innings he found the boundary ropes eight times, besides hitting two sixes.