Pacer Mohit Avasthi returned to top form with a superb 5-62 as Mumbai dominated Day One of their Ranji Trophy Elite Group D match against Delhi at the MCA-BKC ground. After opting to bowl, Mumbai bundled out Delhi for 221, with strong support from Tushar Deshpande and Shams Mulani, before reaching 13-1 at stumps
Mumbai pacer Mohit Avasthi celebrates the wicket of Delhi skipper Ayush at the MCA-BKC ground on Thursday. Pics/Atul Kamble
Mumbai dominated the proceedings on Day One of their Ranji Trophy Elite Group ‘D’ game at the MCA-BKC ground on Thursday thanks to pacer Mohit Avasthi’s 5-62.
Opting to bowl, Mumbai dismissed Delhi for 221 in the first innings. In reply, the hosts were 13-1 at stumps.
Pacer Tushar Deshpande and left-arm spinner Shams Mulani supported Avasthi well, claiming two wickets apiece.
Back in rhythm
Avasthi, 33, who had a shoulder injury earlier and made a comeback in the previous game against Hyderabad last week, said he felt relieved to have done well here. “It’s a relief because I’m playing Ranji Trophy after a long time. I had a ligament tear in the shoulder of my bowling arm and had to stay away for recovery. It was tough to get back into rhythm as a fast bowler,” Avasthi said after day’s play on Thursday.
Delhi’s Sanat Sangwan after getting his century
Avasthi understandably took his time to get things going, but once he found his rhythm, the right-arm pacer needed just 31 balls to get his five wickets. Avasthi was wicketless in his first 11 overs before picking two wickets in his next over. Right-hander Aryan Rana (10) gifted his wicket when he chased one outside the off to give an easy catch to Sarfaraz Khan in the slips. One ball later, Avasthi dismissed Delhi’s top run-getter and skipper Ayush Doseja (0) through wicketkeeper Akash Anand. He then bowled a beautiful outgoing delivery in the next — his 13th over — to dismiss No. 6 left-hander Sumit Mathur (2) through Anand again. Avasthi, who completed his century of wickets (104) in the previous game against Hyderabad, then achieved a sixth fifer in his 34th first-class game, dismissing Delhi’s No.11 Money Grewal (0) through first-slip fielder Sarfaraz again.
Century for Delhi’s Sangwan
Delhi opener Sanat Sangwan’s century (118, 11x4, 2x6) was the only positive for the visitors. Sangwan admitted it was tough to play Avasthi. “The first session wasn’t easy and we had to apply ourselves,” said Sangwan, 25, who is playing only his 14th first-class match and the first against Mumbai.
Brief scores
Delhi 221 all out (S Sangwan 118, P Rajvanshi 39, V Kandpal 32; M Avasthi 5-62, T Deshpande 2-36, S Mulani 2-45) vs Mumbai 13-1 (A Herwadkar 4*; D Mehra 1-4)
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
