Mumbai stare at loss after collapse

MUMBAI: Mumbai stared at defeat as their young batting line-up crumbled against Delhi’s accurate bowling on Day Three of their Elite Group B Ranji Trophy match in New Delhi on Thursday.

Mumbai conceded a first innings lead of 76 after Delhi were bowled out for 369.

Mumbai though buckled in the second innings as Delhi bowlers used the conditions to their advantage by keeping the ball upto the batters, allowing it to swing and more importantly making them play every delivery. The result: within 13 overs Mumbai were reduced to 37 for five with Divij Mehra (5/29) taking four of those wickets.

Skipper Ajinkya Rahane then came up with a fighting half-century to give some respectability to the total. His rearguard action (51 runs, 104b; 4x4) helped Mumbai take a lead of 92 as they reached 169 for nine by stumps.

Rahane first shared a 56-run stand for the sixth wicket with Shams Mulani (30, 66b; 4x4) and then was involved in a 48-run collaboration for the seventh wicket with Tanush Kotian (48*, 87b; 3x4, 1x6).

Rahane was well set and looking good to dig Mumbai out of trouble but an injury to his right leg restricted his movement which ultimately led to his downfall as he edged one to Vaibhav Rawal at wide second slip off Pranshu Vijayran (2/40).

Kotian once again showed that he is quite able with the bat. He is Mumbai’s last hope to stretch the total.

In another match of the same group, Maharashtra beat Hyderabad by nine wickets to move to second in the standings and now have 25 points. Mumbai, who are on 23 points, need a miracle against Delhi to register a win. From all indications, their last group encounter against Maharashtra next week at the CCI will be a virtual knockout.

292 & 169/9 in 59 overs (Ajinkya Rahane 51, Tanush Kotian 48*; Divij Mehra 5/29) vs 369 in 101.1 overs (Pranshu Vijayran 37; Tushar Deshpande 4/111, Shams Mulani 3/90); 385 & 30/1 in 2.5 overs beat

192 in 86.3 overs (Ashay Palkar 3/36, Pradeep Dadhe 3/46) & 219 in 53.1 overs (Chandan Sahani 59; Rajvardhan Hangargekar 3/66, Satyajeet Bachhav 3/32) by nine wickets;

175 & 139/2 in 40 overs (Ravi Chauhan 68, SG Rohilla 52; Vijesh Prabhudesai 2/31) vs 483/9d in 155.2 overs (Eknath Kerkar 156, Darshan Misal 59, Mohit Redkar 56; Pulkit Narang 4/141, MS Rathee 3/94).

MUMBAI: Mumbai City FC extended their dominance and went seven points clear at the top of the table after beating NorthEast United FC (NEUFC) 4-0 in their Indian Super League match at the Mumbai Football Arena here on Thursday.

Ahmed Jahouh (5th), Jorge Diaz (11th) and Vinit Rai (45th) were on target for the Islanders. The third goal, which came in the 15th minute, was classified as an Alex Saji own goal.

The unbeaten Mumbai City FC now have 39 points from 15 games, seven more than the second-placed Hyderabad FC who can cut the deficit if they win against East Bengal on Friday. NorthEast United FC were handed their 13th defeat of the season and remain bottom.

Meanwhile, Kenkre FC lost to Mohammedan FC 3-0 in an I-League tie at Cooperage.