Mumbai's turn to face the music

It was Mumbai's turn to face the music on a spinning track as the Ranji Trophy champions were struggling for the first innings lead against Delhi on the second day of their Elite Group 'A' tie in New Delhi on Sunday.

Mumbai were 183 for eight, still 16 runs short of Delhi's first innings total, at close on the second day at the Jamia Millia Islamia University grounds.

Middle order batsman Bhavin Thakkar played a fine knock and was unbeaten on 33, while Nilesh Kulkarni was yet to open his account.

Spinners again dominated the day with off-spinner Sarandeep Singh claiming four for 79 and left-arm spinner Rahul Sanghvi scalping three for 64.

Resuming at 15 for no loss, Mumbai had a healthy opening stand of 49 runs between Vinayak Mane (52) and Wasim Jaffer (24). But the slow bowlers ploughed through the visitors' line-up to bring the hosts back into the game.

Sarandeep Singh, during one phase, bowled 27 overs on the trot from the pavilion end and picked up four wickets for 59 runs. That spell effectively broke Mumbai's back.

Sanghvi too hit the right spots to trouble the batsmen consistently.

But the pitch seemed to ease a bit in the afternoon when Thakkar and wicket-keeper Vinayak Samant (29) put on 52 runs for the eighth wicket.

Both batsmen did not let the loose deliveries go unpunished. Scoring runs on either side of the wicket, they revived the team from 128 for seven before Samant was adjudged leg before off India speedster Ashish Nehra's first delivery with the second new ball.