A 133-run sixth-wicket stand between Amol Muzumdar (86 not out) and William Mota (74) enabled Mumbai score 272 for 6 against Punjab on the third day of the Ranji Trophy Elite Group 'B' match at PCA stadium in Mohali on Monday.
Mumbai still trail Punjab by 81 runs, the hosts having scored 353 in the first innings.
Muzumdar is Mumbai's only hope, as the team is left with tail-enders to thwart Punjab's attack.
In his unbeaten 86, Mazumdar hit seven boundaries.
The partnership between Mazumdar and Mota was broken by Ishan Malhotra when the latter was caught by wicketkeeper Pankaj Dharmani at Mumbai's total of 272.
Opener Sahil Kukreja also contributed a useful 43 for Mumbai.
Punjab bowler Amanpreet Singh played havoc with the Mumbai batsmen, claiming three vital wickets while giving away 54 runs.
Vinayak Mane (20), Rohit Sharma (22) and Ramesh Powar (2) were the ones to be dismissed by the Punjab bowler.
The other successful bowlers for the hosts were Ishan Malhotra, who picked two wickets, and Amit Uniyal, one.
Scorecard
Punjab (1st innings): 353
Mumbai (1st innings):
Sahil Kukreja c Dharmani b Ishan 43
Vinayak Mane c Gupta b Amanpreet 20
Bhavin Thakkar c Kaul b Uniyal 5
Amol Muzumdar batting 86
Rohit Sharma c Ricky b Amanpreet 22
Ramesh Powar c Dharmani b Amanpreet 2
Wilkin Mota c Dharmani B Ishan 74
Extras: (NB-6, W-2, LB-12) 20
Total: (for 6 wkts) 272
Fall of wickets: 1-39, 2-56, 3-85, 4-135, 5-139, 6-272.
Bowling: Gagandeep 23-6-49-0, Amit Uniyal 21-4-58-1, Ishan Malhotra 20.1-1-62-2, Amanpreet 23-6-54-3, Rajesh Sharma 7-1-25-0, Dinesh Mongia 4-1-12-0.