Mumbai look for outright win; semifinal berth against Maharashtra

Nasik, Jan 9 (UNI) The 36-time Ranji Trophy champions Mumbai, who got their this season's campaign back on track after a horrendous start, will look to gain an outright win and qualify for the semifinals when they meet arch-rivals Maharashtra in their last Ranji Trophy Super League Group 'B' match at the golf Club ground here from tomorrow.

Mumbai, who were however expecting the India duo of Zaheer Khan and master blaster Sachin Tendulkar to play this match after they confirmed to turn out for Mumbai, will now have to do without them in this crucial tie with the former pulling out for personal reasons, while the latter pulled out due to a hamstring injury sustained during the third Test in South Africa.

However, another member of the Indian squad in the South Africa tour opener Wasim Jaffer will be available for Mumbai, who recorded comprehensive wins in their last two matches against Gujarat and Rajasthan to come back into the hunt for a semifinal berth. Mumbai will also have pace bowler Ajit Agarkar who was in the India squad for the one-dayers in South Africa.

Mumbai have currently 10 points and would be keen to add to their tally by gaining maximum points (seven) against Maharashtra, who will miss the services of paceman Munaf Patel, due to injury.

Speaking to reporters after the practice session this afternoon, Mumbai coach Praveen Amre and captain Amol Muzumdar expressed confidence ahead of the match saying the team would play positive cricket.

''We will play positive cricket. The Golf Club ground is good and we have good players like Ajit Agarkar, Ramesh Powar, Nilesh Kulkarni, Swapnil Hazare, Sahil Kukreja, Sameer Marathe and others,'' Muzumdar said.

Maharashtra coach Chandrakant Pandit had similar sentiments to share when he said,''We are counting on players like Harshad Khadiwale, Dheeraj Jadhav, Hrishikesh Kanitkar, S Sriram, Mansingh Nigde and Sairaj Bahututle.'' ''Sriram is in good form. He made a century against Gujarat here.

Khadiwale also played steadily. Our bowlers like Anupam Sanklecha, Suyash Burkul, Sairaj Bahutule are good.'' Sudhakar Bhalekar, chief of security on the grounds, said that considering the expected rush for the match, security has been beefed up as a precautionary measure.

The wicket here is full of runs and the captain winning the toss should have no hesitation in batting first and piling up a huge score to put pressure on the opposition.

The teams: Mumbai (from): Amol Muzumdar (c), Wasim Jaffer, Sahil Kukreja, Rohit Sharma, Hiken Shah, Ramesh Powar, Ajit Agarkar, Sameer Marathe, Nilesh Kulkarni, Swapnil Hazare, Kshemal Waingankar, Abjijeet Nair, Bhavin Thakkar, Rajesh Verma.

Maharashtra (from): Sairaj Bahutule (c), Harshad Khadiwale, Dheeraj Jadhav, Hrishikesh Kanitkar, S Sriram, Mansingh Nigde, Anupam Sanklecha, Suyash Burkul, YV Takawale, Prashan Bhoir, S Satbhai, R Jadhav, A Joshi, R Patkal.

UNI