On a placid pitch that has had nothing to offer the bowlers, Mumbai’s bowlers gave their team an upper hand – primarily due to their batting efforts – midway through its Ranji Trophy Group-B tie against Andhra.
All-rounders Shams Mulani and Tanush Kotian saw off the early moisture before falling in Nithish Kumar Reddy’s successive overs, which completed a deserving five-wicket haul for the pacer. On the cusp of the first hour mark, when Andhra had Mumbai at 316 for eight, its batters would have started visualising strokes.
But Mohit Avasthi (53, 130b, 172m, 9x4, 1x6) and Dhawal Kulkarni frustrated a tired Andhra bowling lot with a 98-run association that ensured Mumbai for a majority of the second day. After helping Mumbai finish its first essay at 395, the bowlers came to party in the last session, leaving Andhra in a spot of bother at stumps.
