Powar turns match in Mumbai's favour

Nasik, Jan 11 (UNI) Off-spinner Ramesh Powar took two late wickets to trigger a collapse in the Maharashtra batting order, leaving them on 99 for 4 on the second day in reply to Mumbai's mammoth first innings score of 515 for eight declared in the crucial Ranji Trophy Super League Group 'B' match at the Golf Club ground here today.

At close of play on the second day, S Sriram on one and Anupam Sankelcha on zero were holding the fort for Maharashtra, still 416 runs adrift of Mumbai's first innings score.

Earlier, Mumbai resuming at their overnight score of 302 for three, put the hosts attack to the sword with Hiken Shah completing his maiden Ranji century and Abhishek Nair smashing a 96-ball 88.

For Nair it was not third time lucky as for the third time in a row he fell when in sight of his century having made 97 vs Gujarat and 86 against Rajasthan in the previous matches.

Mumbai lost an early wicket in Rohit Sharma to the new ball when he was caught by Mansingh Nigde in the slips off Anupam Sanklecha for 30 with Mumbai on 340 for 4.

Abhishek Nair then joined Hiken Shah and the two youngsters tore the bowling apart with the former being really severe on Rohit Jadhav hitting five sixes in all, two of them sailing out of the ground needing for the ball to be replaced.

Hiken, after reaching a well deserved century, was unlucky to be out when he backed up too far and a straight drive from Nair hit the bowler's (Khadiwale) hand and went on to disturb the stumps. Hiken made 112 which was studded with 15 fours.

After the fall of Hiken's wicket, the Mumbai batsmen all went for runs and with Maharashtra captain Sairaj Bahutule unable to bowl due to a shoulder niggle, Mumbai managed to make 515 for eight before the declaration came 30 minutes before tea.

Maharashtra opening batsmen Dheeraj Jadhav and Harshad Khadiwale started off in a confident manner with the latter being real severe on Swapnil Hazare.

However, Ajit Agarkar got Mumbai the breakthrough they were desparately in need when Dheeraj Jadhav played an uppish cut and Nilesh Kulkarni at gully took an superb catch. Jadhav made 9.

Hrishikesh Kanitkar then joined Khadiwale and the two continued to frustrate Mumbai but Abhishek Nair, who has developed an uncanny knack of breaking partnerships this season, once again gave Mumbai the breakthrough as he trapped Kanitkar in front of the wicket as the batsman tried to play across the line and paid the penalty. He made 15 with Maharashtra on 82.

Muzumdar then brought on Powar and Kulkarni, the double spin attack, and the Maharashtra batsmen had no answer to the guile of e power as he first snared Yogesh Takwale when he tried to sweep the off spinner but only managed a top edge which was taken by Amol Muzumdar. He made 10 and Maharashtra were 95 for three.

In the meantime, Khadiwale completed a well compiled half century, but was snapped up by Powar in the closing moments of the day's play as he tried to leave Powar outside the leg stump, but the ball spun back to take the edge of his bat and went straight to backward shortleg where Agarkar completed an easy catch. Khadiwale made 54 in 121 balls with nine beautifully struck fours.

MORE UNI