Srinagar: Left-arm spinner Shams Mulani produced a stellar all-round performance, bagging seven wickets to guide Mumbai to a 35-run victory over Jammu and Kashmir in an exciting Ranji Trophy Group D opener on Saturday.
Chasing 243 for victory, Jammu and Kashmir fell short by 35 runs, bowled out for 207 in 64.4 overs, as Mulani wreaked havoc with figures of 7/46, his 17th five-wicket haul in first-class cricket. The left-arm spinner, who also scored a crucial 91 in Mumbai’s first innings, once again proved to be his team’s match-winner.
For the hosts, opener Qamran Iqbal (56) and skipper Paras Dogra (29) stitched a promising 53-run stand, taking the score to 84/2 and briefly raising hopes of a chase. However, once Mulani dismissed Dogra and off-spinner Tanush Kotian removed Abdul Samad (15), the innings unraveled quickly.
Mulani continued to strike at regular intervals, and once Iqbal fell as his third victim, J&K’s resistance collapsed. Mumbai eventually sealed the win to collect six points, while J&K went home empty-handed.
Other Matches
Delhi vs Hyderabad (Hyderabad)
Skipper Ayush Badoni (6/73) and spinner Arpit Rana (3/23) helped Delhi secure three points after restricting Hyderabad to 411.
Resuming at 400/7, Hyderabad’s tail folded quickly, with Delhi finishing their second innings at 138/3 before play was called off. Sanat Sangwan remained unbeaten on 56.
Brief Scores:
- Delhi 529/4 decl. & 138/3 (Sanat Sangwan 56*); Hyderabad 411 (Tanmay Agarwal 132).
Points: Delhi 3, Hyderabad 1.
Puducherry vs Himachal Pradesh (Puducherry)
- Himachal Pradesh 305 & 91/4; Puducherry 183.
Points: HP 3, Puducherry 1.
Rajasthan vs Chhattisgarh (Rajsamand)
- Chhattisgarh 332 & 109 (Manav Suthar 8/42); Rajasthan 386 & 56/1.
Points: Rajasthan 6, Chhattisgarh 0.
Brief Scores – Srinagar:
Mumbai 386 & 181; J&K 325 & 207 (Qamran Iqbal 56, Shams Mulani 7/46).
Points: Mumbai 6, J&K 0.
