Maharashtra required just four overs on Friday to take the remaining three Mumbai wickets and win the Ranji Trophy Elite Division Group 'A' match by 65 runs at the Wankhede stadium in Mumbai on Friday.
Resuming at 155 for seven, Mumbai required 71 runs to win and they had pinned their hopes on all-rounder Ramesh Powar, but the first innings hero could not deliver this time as he fell on the last ball in the second over of the day. He was clean bowled by Munaf Patel for three to leave Mumbai on 157 for eight.
In the next over, Sairaj Bahutule had Rajesh Verma trapped leg before wicket to leave the hosts at 158 for nine.
The final nail in Mumbai's coffin was placed by Patel, who had wrecked Mumbai's first innings, after he claimed the wicket of captain Nilesh Kulkarni caught in the slips by Hrishikesh Kanitkar to bowl out Mumbai for 160.
Patel and Bahutule, both imports from Mumbai, were responsible for their former team's downfall as they claimed four wickets apiece.
For Mumbai, this was their first loss this season. In fact, they had not conceded a first innings lead till then.
Mumbai with 16 points have already qualified for the semi-finals, while Maharashtra, who got four points from the victory, now have eight points thereby saving their relegation.
Scorecard:
Maharashtra first innings: 213
Mumbai first innings: 175
Maharashtra second innings: 187
Mumbai 2nd innings (overnight score: 155 for 7)
S Kukreja b S Bahutule 9
S Marathe c H Kanitkar b M Patel 4
A Shetye lbw b M Patel 13
V Indulkar c S Bahutule b R Jadhav 34
A Muzumdar c H Kanitkar b R Jadhav 46
N Shetty c S Satbhai b S Bahutule 37
A Nair b S Bahutule 0
R Powar b M Patel 3
N Kulkarni c H Kanitkar b M Patel 3
R Verma lbw b S Bahutule 0
S Hazare not out 0
Extras (lb 8, w 2, nb 1) 11
Total (all out in 64 overs) 160
Fall of wickets: 1-9, 2-29, 3-35, 4-95, 5-152, 6-153, 7-154, 8-157, 9-158.
Bowling: M Patel 17-6-42-4, S Burkul 8-3-21-0, S Sanklecha, 10-3-28-0, S Bahutule 19-7-35-4, R Jadhav 10-4-26-2.
Result: Maharashtra won by 65 runs
More from rediff