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Monday, Feb 05, 2007
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The onus is on Mumbai bowlers to finish off the task

Nandakumar Marar

Test of Bengal's ability to build partnerships to press for victory

— Photo: Vivek Bendre

CELEBRATION TIME: Ranadeb Bose celebrates Ajit Agarkar's dismissal in Mumbai's second innings.

MUMBAI: Sachin Tendulkar's decision to bowl the 32nd over of Bengal's second innings, the last over on day three, is a signal that Mumbai's victory charge has veered a little off course. He is a combative cricketer, with plenty of tricks up his bowling sleeve against batsmen letting down their guard.

The Wankhede stadium wicket is taking turn, in keeping with curator Sudhir Naik's assessment.

Off-spinner Ramesh Powar has been the most influential in keeping Deep Dasgupta and Manoj Tiwary in check. Bengal, needing 472 runs to win the 2007 Ranji Trophy final, is 374 runs adrift at 98 for two in the second innings.

Dasgupta, patient at the crease and seeing off twin pace threats of Zaheer Khan and Ajit Agarkar, is anchoring one end. Tiwary, quietly confident as in the first essay against the aggressive duo, appears set for long-term occupation.

Testing time

In these days when teams find it difficult to save matches in the longer version, 374 runs is a tall order. The next two days will test Bengal's ability to put together partnerships with an eye on victory. Big-match players Sourav Ganguly and Rohan Gavaskar are next in line, setting the stage for an intriguing finish.

Tendulkar trying his hand at breaking the Dasgupta-Tiwary stand, off-spinner Powar striking with the first ball in the second innings and the comfort level felt by Bengal openers Dasgupta-Arindam Das facing the new ball against Zaheer and Agarkar will raise queries about Mumbai's decision to leave out veteran left-arm spinner Nilesh Kulkarni.

Cricket has a knack of mocking the supremely confident, so Mumbai's march to the title is no cakewalk, even after first two days of dominance in this five-day tie.

The home side's second innings total of 294, off 80.3 overs of adventurous batting, puts the onus on bowlers to finish off the task.

The 177-run first innings lead was a cushion for the seamers to attack. Wilkin Mota, drafted in Kulkarni's place and bowling seam-up, got the first breakthrough in the 15th over, Wasim Jaffer at gully snapping up a snick off Arindam.

Powar, joining the attack in the 23rd over, deceived Jhunjhunwala.

Missed chances

Tendulkar (43 off 63 balls, 7x4) was the only batman to play the dogged Bengal bowlers on his own terms, helped by two lives at six and 29. Ranadeb Bose, on a high after dismissing Jaffer, greeted the newcomer with a bouncer.

Tiwary held onto a vicious slash from Tendulkar off Sourashish Lahiri, then flew in the air at gully to pull off a reflex catch off the same bowler. The batsman to walk back was skipper Muzumdar (37 off 56 balls, 6x4).

Abhishek Nair (34 off 52 balls, 4x4, 1x6) fell in an attempt to speed up scoring. Bose (five for 71) and Sourav Sarkar (three for 54) returned to tame the big-hitters Powar, Agarkar and Zaheer down the order.

The scores:

Mumbai — 1st innings: 320.

Bengal — 1st innings: 143.

Mumbai — 2nd innings: Sahil Kukreja c Dasgupta b Bose 5, Wasim Jaffer c & b Bose 53, Rohit Sharma b Dinda 57, Wilkin Mota c Dasgupta b Sarkar 15, Sachin Tendulkar c Tiwary b Lahiri 43, Amol Muzumdar c Tiwary b Bose 37, Abhishek Nair c Dasgupta b Sarkar 34, Ramesh Powar c Ganguly b Sarkar 4, Ajit Agarkar c Das b Bose 6, Vinayak Samant (not out) 9, Zaheer Khan b Bose 13. Extras (lb-4, nb-14) 18. Total (in 80.3 overs) 294

Fall of wickets: 1-6, 2-113, 3-119, 4-160, 5-188, 6-257, 7-262, 8-269, 9-273

Bengal bowling: Bose 26.3-6-71-5, Sarkar 14-2-54-3, Dinda 25-6-70-1, Lahiri 12-0-86-1, Ganguly 3-0-9-0.

Bengal — 2nd innings: Deep Dasgupta (batting) 43, Arindam Das c Jaffer b Mota 10, A. Jhunjhunwala lbw b Powar 20, Manoj Tiwary (batting) 19. Extras (b-2, lb-1, nb-3) 6. Total (for two wkts. in 32 overs) 98.

Fall of wickets: 1-39, 2-65.

Mumbai bowling: Agarkar 7-2-33-0, Zaheer 9-3-26-0, Mota 7-4-17-1, Nair 3-1-3-0, Powar 5-2-15-1, Tendulkar 1-0-1-0.

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