The Hindu : Mumbai, Baroda set to renew rivalry

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Apr 25, 2003

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Sport - Cricket

Mumbai, Baroda set to renew rivalry

By Our Special Correspondent

Baroda April 24. Mumbai and Baroda are all set to enter a cauldron when they play their Ranji Trophy semifinal in temperatures around 43 degrees over five days from Friday. The players of both teams have shown remarkable patience for almost two and half months. They have arrived at a point in time wherein they can look forward to displaying their wares and take their good work in the season into another week and probably till the first week of May.

The two teams are at full might, except for the notable absence of Sachin Tendulkar in the Mumbai ranks. Victories in the crucial matches of the national championship will enhance the players' reputation and earn them prestige. The time is upon some of the players to show total loyalty and commitment to their teams.

Having played their last match in the first week of February is bound to have an adverse affect. Those who have not played competitive cricket in between are likely to appear rusty and run into loss of form. They know their skills, determination and nerves will be tested, but at the same time they will be the lucky few the vast majority and the discerning will be watching as they take the country's prestigious championship into a climatic finish.

Despite all the delay to the knockout part of the Ranji Trophy and talk of scorching heat, all the four teams in fray would be desperate to prevail over their rivals and take a shot at the title in the final.

Mumbai and Baroda who will strive to beat the heat and outwit each other at the Gujarat State Fertilizer Corporation (GSFC) ground, have been traditional rivals ever since they clashed in the national championship for the first time more than 50 years ago.

That Mumbai has enjoyed overall supremacy in 41 of the 55 matches against Baroda mirrors its true strength, but what the results do not make evident is the keen contests between the two teams in recent times.

Usually the advent of winter coincides with the start of the West Zone league and sets up a meeting between the two. But with Ranji format changed and Baroda being placed in Elite Group `B' it prevented an early clash in the league stage. But circumstances have now pitted the teams at the knock out stage and at the fag end of the season.

Mumbai's coach Chandrakant Pandit said that his team's winning streak was brought to a halt by the BCCI decision to send the India `A' team to the West Indies and it was for the first time (on Thursday) since early February that a full Mumbai team had assembled at one place.

But skipper Paras Mhambrey did not allow any negative thoughts to linger and said, "we are ready for it. This is an important match. Most of us have been playing some match or the other and we have been training for a month.''

In order to get used to the conditions, Mumbai had a full training session from 11. 30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesday and had a light work out on Thursday. "The players had to get to used to the heat,'' said Pandit.

According to national selector Kiran More, Baroda's cricket has improved once it started playing at the GSFC ground. "There's every thing for the fast bowler on the pitch there. There's bounce and batsmen can play strokes. Although we played only one match here (against Assam), training at the GSFC ground has helped our preparation.''

The teams will take the field with three fast bowlers. Mumbai's pace attack will consist of Ajit Agarkar, Paras Mhambrey and Avishkar Salvi and Baroda will have Rakesh Patel, Irfan Khan (jr) and Zaheer Khan who will be playing his first match for Baroda this season.

Last year Zaheer played four matches and took 34 wickets. Zaheer joined the team on Thursday morning, but did not bowl in the nets. "He told me 15 days ago that he will play the semifinal,'' said More.

Considering the importance of the match, Baroda decided to withdraw Irfan Pathan (Jr) and Rakesh Solanki from the India under-19 team that is due to visit against Nepal next week and play three matches there. Pathan has been a leading bowler for Baroda.

But according to Nayan Mongia, the best seamer in the season has been Rakesh Patel. "He has been outstanding. He trained during the off season and has been spot on right from the first match of the season,'' said Mongia.

The teams (from): Mumbai: Paras Mhambrey (captain), Wasim Jaffer, Vinayak Mane, Amol Muzumdar, Nishit Shetty, Vinayak Samant, Ramesh Powar, Ajit Agarkar, Avishkar Salvi, Sairaj Bahutule, Nilesh Kulkarni, Bhavin Thakkar, Swapnil Hazare, Robin Morris, Vinit Indulkar.

Baroda: Connor Williams (captain), Satyajit Parab, Rakesh Solanki, Tushar Arothe, Ajit Bhoite, Dhiren Salvi, Nayan Mongia, Rakesh Patel, Zaheer Khan, Irfan Pathan (Jr), Irfan Pathan (Sr), Valmick Buch, Rishikesh Parab, Rohit Chandorkar.

Umpires: K. Hariharan and Devendra Sharma.

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