da brwin： Hyderabad’s big guns, Mohammed Azharuddin and VVS Laxman looked likethey might have it in them to steer Hyderabad past Mumbai’s firstinnings total in the Ranji Trophy final
Anand Vasu20-Apr-2000Hyderabad’s big guns, Mohammed Azharuddin and VVS Laxman looked likethey might have it in them to steer Hyderabad past Mumbai’s firstinnings total in the Ranji Trophy final. However at the end of thesecond day, neither could do enough to cement Hyderabad’sposition. Having conceded a lead of 181 and with three days left toplay, Hyderabad will have to fight hard to dig themselves out of thehole they are in.At the end of the first day, centurion Vinod Kambli thought that even300 was a good score for Mumbai. He added that anything more would bea bonus. It’s always handy to have a bonus of 76 runs. Ending on 376all out, Mumbai got ready to have a go at the Hyderabad batsman.Even the 73 runs they managed on the second morning was thanks to alate in the order 75 from Paras Mhambrey. He has been in good nickwith the bat this season, with 117 against Maharashtra in the seasonopener being his best. Coming in at number 7, the Mumbai medium pacerkept Kambli good company yesterday. Even after Kambli was dismissed,Mhambrey continued to bat confidently. Approaching the bowling morelike a batsman than a bowler, Mhambrey shared a partnership of 60 withAjit Agarkar and gave the Mumbai total the extra solidity that couldprove crucial.Venkatapathy Raju who is a past master at bowling spin on Indianwickets bowled efficiently on the second day of this five dayencounter. Bowling a spell of 3.2-1-10-2, Raju helped himself to thewickets of Mhambrey and Saxena, Raju ended with innings pickings of37.2-11-110-4.Coming out to bat requiring 377 to take a first innings lead,Hyderabad were reduced to 7/2. Openers Nandakishore and Daniel Manohardid not last long against the Mumbai seamers. Manohar found the paceof Agarkar too hot to handle as he mishit an attempted hook to the onside. Running back from forward short leg, Rajesh Pawar held a goodcatch. Nandakishore followed soon after, edging a ball from Kuruvillastraight to Tendulkar in the slips. Hyderabad were tottering and theirtwo most famous sons Laxman and Azharuddin were at the crease.As Kambli and Sachin Tendulkar held the hopes of the Mumbai team,Laxman and Azharuddin carried the responsibility for Hyderabad. Whentwo men are shouldering the major responsibility of a team and indeedthe hopes of a whole state, strange things can happen. Withadrenaline pumping, Laxman treated the Mumbai crowd to some finebatting. Taking on the short pitched bowling that was served up tohim, Laxman pulled magnificently, taking the bull by itshorns. Sensing his limitations, Azhar chose to take evasive actionwhenever he was targetted by the rising ball. In their own ways, thetwo motored along strongly till things went horribly wrong.Running a quick single when Azhar tapped the ball back towards thebowler, Laxman found himself short of his ground as Mhambrey fired athrow in to ‘keeper Sameer Dighe. The bails were whipped off in aflash and Laxman’s entertaining knock of 46 came to an abrupt end.Hyderabad’s next hope, Vanka Pratap did not last long, flashing hardat a ball spinning away from him from Ramesh Powar. The ball clippedthe edge on the way to the wicketkeeper and Azhar found himself in thecompany of Parth Satwalkar.Though Azhar did not look at his fluent best, he stuck around longenough to make 76. When he edged a ball from Saxena towards the slipcordon, Mumbai heaved a sigh of relief as Dighe dived across andpouched the catch. With Azhar gone, there was very little hope ofHyderabad seriously challenging Mumbai’s score.Wickets fell at regular intervals with only Parth Satwalkar (30)offering any resistance. All out for 195, Hyderabad will take thefield tomorrow having conceded a sizeable lead.