Mumbai take huge lead against Rest of India

Newly crowned Ranji Trophy champions Mumbai did not enforce the follow-on after taking a huge lead of 297 runs over Rest of India on day three of the five-day Irani Cup contest at the Brabourne Stadium, here today.
The 41-time national champions bundled out the Rest for 306, that was mainly built around Karnataka batsman Karun Nair's 94, in reply to their own mammoth first innings total of 603 to take the lead.
However, to give rest to their bowlers and fielders, Mumbai opted to bat instead of enforcing the follow-on and made 2 for 1 in their second innings at stumps.

In the morning, Rest began their first innings at the overnight 36 for one but lost the wicket of opener Faiz Fazal quite early and after the addition of only 19 runs.
A stand of 55 between night watchman Jayant Yadav (48) and Sudip Chatterjee (23) moved the score past the 100 mark before Mumbai struck hard by sending back both as well as captain Naman Ojha to leave Rest struggling at 128 for 5.
It was left to Nair, who batted for 275 minutes and struck 11 fours in his 192-ball knock, to revive the tottering innings with help from Sheldon Jackson (37) and tail-ender Jaydev Unadkat (48).

With Jackson, Nair added 59 runs for the sixth wicket and with Unadkat he put on 91 for the ninth wicket before he was last out when in the company of No 10 Krishna Das as injured Ankeet Rajput did not come out to bat.

The bulk of the wickets were taken by medium pacer Abhishek Nayar (3 for 35) and the two spinners - left arm Iqbal Abdullah (2 for 62) and off spinner Jay Bista (2 for 52).
Mumbai lost Akhil Herwadkar cheaply to off spin bowler Jayant Yadav off the fourth ball of their innings before stumps were drawn with first innings centurion Bista on 1.

Brief scores: Mumbai 603 and 2 for 1 (J Bista batting 1). Rest of India 306 all out (Jayant Yadav 46, Karun Nair 94, Sheldon Jackson 37, Jaydev Unadkat 48; Abhishek Nayar 3 for 35, Iqbal Abdullah 2 for 62, Jay Bista 2 for 52).