Mumbai poised for victory thrust

A mixed bag of a day for Mumbai on Saturday, the fourth day of the Ranji Trophy final. Hyderabad handily won the first two sessions of the day, before losing the last. But then that is the advantage of dominating most of the first three days play. Mumbai had left itself in the happy position of being able to come second best for large periods of play, and yet remain on the positive side of the ledger overall.

The day began well for the home team. Hyderabad had scored a mere 10 of the mammoth 591 they needed when Nandakishore edged Agarkar into the hands of Tendulkar at first slip - the second time Tendulkar had snaffled the Hyderabadi in the game.

That was, however, to be the last success for the presumptive champions for nigh on the next 4-1/2 hours. For that period, spanning 188 runs, the left-right combination of VVS Laxman and Daniel Manohar held firm, denying Mumbai a breakthrough and offering their team the merest hint of a glimpse of the Promised Land in the distant horizon. In the searing heat of Mumbai, that vision proved to be a mirage in the final session of the day.

For all the time they were together, though, the Hyderabadi duo demonstrated all the resilience that coach Arshad Ayub has imbued their side with this year - a resilience that has stood them in such good stead all season long, as they have come back from adversity time and again to triumph. They may have started cautiously and shakily - Laxman was put down at slip by Tendulkar off Kuruvilla when only six - but they blossomed with the advent of the spinner. Laxman, in particular, used his feet to loft two sixes off Pawar, and he went on his merry way shattering every domestic batting record in sight.

At tea, Hyderabad were 190/1 after 64 overs with Laxman already past his ton, and there must have been the hint of worry creeping into the Mumbai dressing room. Both batsmen were set and looking good, the bowling seemed pedestrian, and Azharuddin was an ominous presence in the dressing room.

It all changed after tea, as the pressure of the chase made itself felt. Mumbai came back with renewed purpose and vigour, led by their two main young bowlers, Ajit Agarkar and Rajesh Pawar. Both began proceedings after the interval and, in sultry conditions, bowled for an hour on the trot - excellent, probing bowling that changed the course of the innings.

First the plucky Pawar lived up to his word, creating a little chink in the seemingly impregnable wall (skipper Dighe later talked of how the youngster's head never dropped as the batsmen went after him, and his statement "mi kholtoi" - "I'll open them up" as he took the ball from his captain's hand). Pawar deceived his tormentor Laxman in flight and had him well caught by substitute Amit Dani at deep extra-cover. He then followed it up by bowling opener Daniel Manohar for a painstaking 71, compiled in over five hours of resolute batting. The breach was widening.

This was promptly converted into a gaping hole as the fire-power of Ajit Agarkar took effect, blasting through the defences of Vanka Pratap and Riaz Sheikh in consecutive overs. Working up some pace, Agarkar pitched it well up to both batsmen, trapping Pratap in front of his stumps and knocking over two of Sheikh's.

As a result, 190/1 at tea had turned into 221/5 at the drinks break as the Hyderabad innings crumbled. Pawar had bowled seven overs in this crucial hour, claiming two for 15. Meanwhile his international teammate had done even better at the other end, claiming two for seven in his six overs.

The last recognized batsmen, skipper Azharuddin and all-rounder Satwalkar, waged a last-ditch effort attempting to keep the marauding hordes from overruning the ship. With both Pawar and Agarkar out of the firing line, they saw off the next three-quarters of an hour with some resolute defence.

Pawar, however, was brought back for one more burst at the end. And he responded immediately, making one turn and jump at the former Indian skipper, having him caught at silly-point. He followed it up by having Satwalkar leg-before in his next over.

Fiaz Ahmed and the usually obdurate Venkatapathy Raju saw off the last three overs of the day without further damage.

Thus Hyderabad ended the day at 251/7, with very little hope left of denying Mumbai the title on the morrow. With only two tailenders to follow and nearly runs to play with, the Mumbai side will look forward to this Easter Sunday with more than usual relish.

For the lone Christian in the side, though, it will be a bittersweet day. Abey Kuruvilla made his debut in a Ranji final 10 years ago, and tomorrow will be his last day on a cricket field in Mumbai colours. One of the greatest and most loyal servants that Mumbai cricket has seen in its storied history, he steps away from the team after a season in which he was, once again, its top fast bowler. Every Mumbai player and fan will want him to lead the side off the field for the last time tomorrow as a champion, for he deserves no less.