Mulani and Kotian lead Mumbai to innings and 155-run win over Chandigarh

In their Ranji Trophy match at the Wankhede Stadium on Tuesday, Mumbai took less than two sessions and 51.1 overs to snare the remaining nine Chandigarh wickets and complete an innings and 155-run victory.

The bonus-point win provided an ideal start to Mumbai’s quest to reclaim the Ranji Trophy, with all five specialist bowlers recording at least one wicket. The spin pair of Shams Mulani and Tanush Kotian outdid the pace trio, sharing six wickets as Chandigarh were dismissed for 196 in their second innings.

Chandigarh began the day chasing a 351-run deficit and, after losing an early wicket on the second evening, required a significant effort to avoid follow-on defeat. Arjun Azad and Arslan Khan opened in free-flowing fashion before Sarfaraz Khan, at second slip, pouching an edge off Sylvester D’Souza to remove Arslan.

Tushar Deshpande, fresh from his hat-trick on Monday, continued his good work by using a short-ball ploy to induce captain Manan Vohra into a false shot and by rattling Azad’s helmet with a bouncer. Mulani then broke through Azad’s defence and, on the cusp of lunch, had Raj Bawa caught at forward short leg.

With half the visitors back in the dressing room, Mumbai aimed to finish the job in the second session. Mohit Avasthi dismissed Dipender Kush, while Shivam Bhambri offered some resistance at the other end. Kotian’s 39th-over introduction brought immediate rewards; the off-spinner created chances straightaway and went on to claim three wickets, and Mulani added another scalp as Mumbai wrapped up the formalities 11 minutes before the tea break.

Mumbai — 1st innings: 429. Chandigarh — 1st innings: 78. Chandigarh — 2nd innings: Vishu Kashyap b Deshpande 0, Arjun Azad b Mulani 62, Arslan Khan c Sarfaraz b D’Souza 20, Manan Vohra c Mulani b Deshpande 14, Shivam Bhambri c Jaiswal b Mulani 44, Raj Bawa c sub (Parkar) b Mulani 6, Dipender Kush b Avasthi 5, Akshit Rana b Kotian 17, Nishunk Birla c Sarfaraz b Kotian 18, Jagjit Singh Sandhu lbw b Kotian 6, Rohit Dhanda (not out) 0; Extras (lb-4): 4; Total (in 52.1 overs): 196. Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-39, 3-87, 4-101, 5-109, 6-120, 7-157, 8-183, 9-191. Mumbai bowling: Deshpande 8-2-37-2, Avasthi 10-1-42-1, D’Souza 9-2-14-1, Mulani 18-1-69-3, Kotian 7.1-2-30-3.

The three-day rout also earned Mumbai an additional day’s rest before it travels to Bilaspur to take on Himachal Pradesh in the next round.