Ranji trophy: Mulani, Himanshu shine in Mumbai's victory over Odisha
Spinner Shams Mulani (5/71) and Himanshu Singh (4/77) wreaked havoc by sharing nine wickets between them as defending champions Mumbai crushed Odisha by an innings and 103 runs in their Elite Group A match in the Ranji Trophy, here Saturday.
Mulani was adjudged the Player of the Match for his impact in the outcome of the match. He snared 11 wickets in the game which the hosts dominated after piling up a massive 602 for four declared.
Odisha were shot out for 214 in the second innings after Mumbai captain Ajinkya Rahane imposed a follow-on. They could manage only 285 in their first essay.
Resuming at 126 for five on the final day, Odisha's hopes of delaying the inevitable were dashed by Mulani when he trapped wicketkeeper-batter Aashirwad Swain (51) soon after he completed his half-century.
The rest of the Odisha batters could not trouble the scorers much as their innings folded in a jiffy. Mumbai earn a bonus point for their outright win.
Shreyas Iyer's 233 and Siddhesh Lad's unbeaten 169 had powered Mumbai to a mammoth first innings total.
“The ball wasn't turning much in the first innings. I got most of my wickets caught in the first slip on the straighter ones. There wasn't much turn but Ajju da (Ajinkya Rahane) insisted that I must stick to my strengths,” Himanshu told reporters after the game.
“Our captain is very calm. He made me understand that I must set my fields and allowed me to bowl freely. We make the strategies together, if our plans are not working then he brings his own ideas into play,” he added.
Brief scores:
Mumbai: 602/4 declared
Odisha: 285 & 214 in 72/5 overs (F/O) (Aashirwad Swain 51; Shams Mulani 5/71, Himanshu Singh 4/77).