After restricting former champions Tamil Nadu to 206, defending champions Mumbai were 20 without loss at close on the first day of their four day Elite 'A' Ranji Trophy match at the Guru Nanak College ground in Chennai on Thursday.
At close, Sahil Kukreja, who was dropped by Dinesh Karthik off Yeo Mahesh when he was 10 (Mumbai 10/0), and Wasim Jaffer were at the crease on 17 and three respectively.
The highlight of the day was Mumbai bowlers getting on top of the hosts' top order batsmen and dismissing four of them for 62 in 18.5 overs.
Thereafter, Tamil Nadu, despite Karthik's effort of 76 (12x4, 1x6) off 108 balls, and an unbeaten 66 (166 balls - 8x4) by R Srinivasan, were unable to resurrect their innings.
Test discard Ramesh Powar, who claimed four wickets for 55 runs in 19 overs -- of which four were maidens, provided the turning point, being instrumental in running out opener and dependable batsman M Vijay.
Karthik and Vijay were coasting towards a solid foundation but the latter flicked to square leg and Powar, who dived to stop the ball, missed it. The batsmen were trying for a single but Powar's swift throw at the bowler's end resulted in Vijay's dismissal.
Enthused by the breakthrough, medium pacer Avishkar Salvi picked two quick wickets, dismissing Prasanna (lbw for 3) and clean bowled captain Badrinath (0) in the space of just three balls, leaving Tamil Nadu reeling at 57-3 in 17.3 overs.
In the next over, Abhishek Nayar scalped Srivasudeva Das (4), who chased an away ball and inside edged to wicketkeeper Vinayak Samant. At this stage, Tamil Nadu were 62 for 4.
Karthik and Srinivasan brought up the hundred mark and seemed to be taking their side to a respectable total but Powar had the former leg before wicket.
Scorecard
Tamil Nadu (1st Innings):
Dinesh Karthik lbw Ramesh Powar 76
M Vijay Run out (R,Powar) 17
R Prasanna lbw Avishkar Salvi 3
S Badrinath b Avishkar Salvi 0
K Srivasudeva Das c Vinayak Samant b Abhishek Nayar 4
R Srinivasan not out 66
R Ashwin c and b Iqbal Abdullah 19
R Ramkumjar c Wasim Jaffer b Ramesh Powar 7
R Naresh c Sahil Kukreja b Ramesh Powar 4
Yeo Mahesh c Ajinkya Rahane b Ramesh Powar 3
P Amarnath b Ajit Agarkar 0.
Extras: (B-1, Lb-3, Nb-3) 7
Total: (all out in 77 overs) 206
Fall of wickets: 1-47, 2-57, 3-57, 4-62, 5-119, 6-153, 7-171, 8-185, 9-205.
Bowling: Ajit Agarkar 13-4-36-1, A Salvi 18.4-5-43-2, A Nayar 17-2-41- 1, R Powar 19-4-55-4, I Abdulah 9.2-2-27-1.
Mumbai (1st Innings):
Sahil Kukreja batting 17
Wasim Jaffer batting 3
Total: (for no loss in 11 overs) 20
Bowling: Yeo Mahesh 4-2-10-0, P Amarnath 5-3-8-0, R Naresh 2-1-2-0.
