Mumbai Win Ranji Trophy

Thanks to a fabulous collective team performance and without some of their extremely high profile stars, the boys from Mumbai have won the 2002/2003 Ranji Trophy at their home ground, the historical Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

Mumbai won the toss on the first day against a highly talented Tamil Nadu side, only to bat on a dry, slow Wankhede wicket. Talented young openers Vinayak Mane and Wasim Jaffer got things rolling for Mumbai, only for Mane to be dismissed early for 13.

Prolific young opening batsman Wasim Jaffer and inexperienced batsman Nishit Shetty went about re-building after the early loss of Mane. While Jaffer continued to dominate the bowlers, Shetty fell for 21, leaving Mumbai at 2/100.

Veteran batsman Amol Muzumdar and Jaffer started another useful partnership, as Jaffer reached another domestic 50.
Muzumdar started to pick up the pace, only for Jaffer to be out for 83 to Shrinivas. Jaffer's wicket was a vital one for Tamil Nadu.

Thakkar fell immediately for 0, lbw to Shrinivas, as Mumbai were now on the back foot at 4/142. Muzumdar fell next for 30 to the bowling of Suresh, and talented all rounder Ajit Agarkar fell for 26 to leave TN with the edge.

Skipper, Paras Mhambrey didn't last long, as his contribution of just two lead the Mumbai tail collapse. Mumbai all out for a small total of 260, with TN looking to take full advantage.

A talented Mumbai bowling attack against a strong TN batting card was the Indian spectator's dream on day two, as an eager contest awaited. TN Skipper S Suresh fell early to fast bowler Ajit Agarkar for 3, as former Indian openers, Sadagopan Ramesh and Sridharan Sriram started the TN revival.

Sriram, after making a slow contribution of 26 off 82 balls, fell to the impressive Agarkar. S Badrinath was the new batsman, and alongside Ramesh the two consolidated, as Ramesh brought up another domestic half century.

At 2/131, Badrinath was out for a good contribution of 42, as former Indian middle order batsman Hemang Badani joined his fellow partner. Badani was looking in prime touch alongside Ramesh who had steadily built his way to 75.

After a partnership of 71 runs, Ramesh's innings fell for a fine 85, as he spooned a catch to Muzumdar of Bahatule's spin bowling. Sharath fell cheaply for 15, once again off Ajit Agarkar's bowling who seriously was taking the heart out of TN's batting.

Badani reached his milestone of 50, but was soon out for 56, off Ajit Agarkar's bowling. Like the Mumbai batting tail, the TN tail also failed to fight, as TN were all out for 271.

With the match clearly at an even keel, TN got the start they so dearly wanted, with Balaji removing young opener Mane for 2 in the seventh over. But after that, a wicket drought struck the boys from the South, as Jaffer was once again the thorn in TN's side.

The prolific Wasim Jaffer alongside inexperienced Nishit Shetty compiled a 188 run partership, with Jaffer unfortunately being dismissed for 98, and with Nishit Shetty bringing up a invaluable century in such a crucial game.

After these two were dismissed, Thakkar (66) and Powar (53) powered Mumbai to a large total of 7/387 declared, to leave Tamil Nadu the task of getting 376 runs to win, on a cracking, turning and difficult pitch.

Agarkar was once again in the thick of things, after getting dangerous opener Sadagopan Ramesh out cheaply for 5. Sriram after occupying the crease for 75 minutes was dismissed by leg spinner Sairaj Bahatule, for just 5, as TN were in dire trouble at 2/62.

TN Skipper S Suresh fell immediately afterwards for 44 to Mumbai captain Paras Mhambrey, and this left talented youngster Hemang Badani to rescue Tamil Nadu out of a rot. Badani responded and slammed home a brave century, despite the rest of the TN batting line-up failing and collapsing around him.

The final nail in the coffin for TN though was when hero, Hemang Badani was dismissed for a brave 109 by Sairaj Bahatule. It all came to a sudden end for TN, as the last batsman, Dhandapani was caught by Mane off Bahatule for a golden duck. Tamil Nadu all out for 235, leaving Mumbai the 2002/2003 Ranji Trophy Champions.

A solid year of Indian Cricket comes to an end, as the boys from the west, Mumbai thanks to a large collective team effort and the ever reliable Wasim Jaffer are this year's Indian Domestic Champions. Congratulations to Mumbai from Cricketweb. Comiserations to Tamil Nadu, their talented lineup will definitely pose a big threat next year.

The Indian's now await New Zealand in October, and Australia in November and tour the "land down under", in December. Until then, it's a long break for the cricketer's and after all the success in their recent World Cup campaign, a well deserved break it will be.


Brief Scores: Mumbai vs Tamil Nadu (Ranji Trophy Final)

Mumbai (1st Innings): 260 (W Jaffer 83, Bahatule 34, Suresh 3/31, Balaji 2/37)

TN (1st Innings): 271 (Ramesh 85, Badani 56, Agarkar 4/57, Bahatule 3/59)

Mumbai (2nd Innings): 7/387 dec. (Shetty 100, Jaffer 98, Shrinivas 3/73, Suresh 1/48)

TN (2nd Innings): 235 (Badani 109, Suresh 44, Bahatule 5/70, Powar 2/57)

Mumbai Win By 141 Runs
Mumbai are the 2002/2003 Ranji Trophy Champions

Cricket Web Player Of The Match: Wasim Jaffer (Mumbai)





Posted by Sangrah