Sarandeep helps Punjab to humble champs Mumbai

Staff Reporter

March 24, 2001

It's not very often that Mumbai are beaten as early as in the quarterfinal of the Ranji Trophy championship. And yet Punjab achieved this rare feat when they overcame the 34 time winners and reigning champions at the Wankhede stadium on Saturday. Requiring 421 for victory, Mumbai resumed at 85 for one but found Indian off spinner Sarandeep Singh in deadly form. He took six for 38 from 12.1 overs as the hosts were bowled out for 213, about half an hour after lunch. Punjab will now take on the winners of the Railways-Karnataka match in semi-finals.

Though they faced a daunting task, Mumbai were not without hopes because of their batting strength. Overnight not out batsmen Vinayak Mane and Wasim Jaffer carried on from where they left off yesterday and all was smooth sailing till they added 102 runs off 18.4 overs. Jaffer reached his fifty but in the next over he was caught by Punjab skipper and wicketkeeper Vikram Rathour off Vaneet Sharma. The former Test opener made 51 off 63 balls hitting seven boundaries.

Jatin Paranjpe joined Mane and the latter too duly crossed his half century. But with the total 135, he was bowled by Sarandeep Singh. For his 56, Mane faced 69 balls and hit six of them to the fence.

Vinod Kambli joined Paranjpe with Mumbai still not without hopes. But the quick dismissals of Kambli and skipper Amol Muzumdar killed any interest in the match. The left handed Kambli was leg before to Sarandeep for no score and this made the home team 146 for four.

In the next over, medium pacer Reetinder Singh Sodhi made his presence felt when he had Muzumdar caught by Ravneet Ricky for no score. This made Mumbai 147 for five and a Punjab victory was now round the corner.

The rest of the batting provided little resistance. But Paranjpe doggedly fought on till he was ninth out for 59. Paranjpe faced 82 balls and hit seven of them to the ropes. Mumbai's batting was so dismal that but for the three who scored half centuries, no other batsman reached double figures.

© Cricinfo

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Matches

Mumbai v Punjab

Players/Umpires

Sarandeep Singh

Series/Tournaments

Indian Domestic Season

Ranji Trophy

Teams

India

Mumbai

Punjab

Grounds

Wankhede Stadium