Bowlers put Mumbai in command against Baroda

Mumbai dominated two of the three sessions to take total control over Baroda on Day Three of their Ranji Trophy quarter-final at the Wankhede stadium on Tuesday.

At stumps, the visitors were languishing at 167 for five (64 overs) in their opening essay, still a whopping 478 runs adrift of the hosts' total, following some reckless batting coupled with disciplined bowling.

Ambati Rayudu was unbeaten on 10, with Pinal Shah, on six.

With two days left, the 39-time champions look set for a comfortable victory and a place in the last four.

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Earlier, resuming at the overnight score of 526 for 6 Mumbai eventually declared at 645 for 9, having dominated the opening session.

The hosts, despite losing Abhishek Nayar -- who could add only 10 more to his overnight score of 122 before becoming Murtuja Vahora's fourth victim -- early, scored at a faster rate on the third morning, adding 121 runs in just 24 overs before declaring their innings 35 minutes before lunch.

Javed Khan did the bulk of the hitting, his 54-ball 43 inclusive of two hits to the fence and four over it. The 22-year-old was also involved in a 73-run partnership with Ajit Agarkar, the Mumbai captain remaining unbeaten on a well-made 52.

With an imposing target ahead of them, Baroda began well, Saurabh Wakaskar (51) and Aditya Waghmode (53) putting up a 102-run partnership for the opening wicket.

The openers negotiated the post-lunch session well, helping the visitors reach 93 (in 35 overs) at tea. The century stand was achieved soon after, with Wakaskar reaching his second half century -- the 21-year-old has also scored two hundreds (against Haryana and Maharashtra) this season.

Then Mumbai struck, Vishal Dabholkar having Wakaskar caught by Wasim Jaffer at first slip.

Shortly after, Dhaval Kulkarni cleaned up Abhimanyu Chauhan (0) to reach the 150 wickets mark in first class cricket.

The 24-year-old, who has had an ordinary season by his steady standards, returned to have Waghmode caught behind.

Kulkarni's second spell figures made for an impressive read: 6-2-18-2.

Kedar Devdhar (16) and Yusuf Pathan added 30 runs for the fourth wicket before Dabholkar had the former out leg before.

And Agarkar had his opposite number Yusuf (21) caught by Kulkarni at mid-on shortly after to send the Baroda innings further into the doldrums.

The final session on Day Three was a productive one for Mumbai, the hosts picking five wickets in quick succession.

The visitors look set to follow-on, and will do well to avoid an innings defeat.

Scorecard

Mumbai (1st innings): (Overnight 524 for 6)
Wasim Jaffer b Gagandeep 150
Kaustubh Pawar lbw Vahora 8
Hiken Shah c Pathan b Bhatt 9
Sachin Tendulkar b Vahora 108
Dhaval Kulkarni c Shah b Vahora 27
Abhishek Nayar c Shah b Vahora 132
Aditya Tare c Shah b Chauhan 64
Ankeet Chavan c Waghmode b Bhatt 22
Ajit Agarkar not out 52
Javed Khan c Vahora b Bhatt 43
Vishal Dabholkar not out 0
Extras: (3nb, 4wb, 8 b, 15lb) 30
TotalP: (for nine wickets, 204 overs): 645 declared

Fall of wickets: 1-24, 2-35, 3-269, 4-286, 5-356, 6-479, 7-533, 8-563, 9-636.

Bowling: Murtuza Vahora 48-13-119-4, Gagandeep Singh 43-7-136-2, Bhargav Bhatt 41-3-128-2, Ketul Patel 38-6-139-0, Abhimanyu Chauhan 19-4-53-1, Ambati Rayudu 6-1-18-0, Aditya Waghmode 9-0-29-0.

Baroda (1st innings):
Saurabh Wakaskar c Jaffer b Dabholkar 51
Aditya Waghmode c Tare b Kulkarni 53
Abhimanyu Chauhan b Kulkarni 0
Kedar Devdhar lbw Dabholkar 16
Yusuf Pathan c Kulkarni b Agarkar 21
Pinal Shah not out 6
Ambati Rayudu not out 10
Extras: (7nb, 1wb, 1 b, 1lb) 10
Total (for five wickets, 64 overs): 167 for five

Fall of wickets: 1-102, 2-109, 3-120, 4-150, 5-150.

Bowling: Javed Khan 6-1-17-0, Dhaval Kulkarni 14-6-41-2, Abhishek Nayar 8-2-17-0, Ajit Agarkar 12-6-22-1, Ankeet Chavan 7-0-25-0, Vishal Dabholkar 17-5-43-2.