Well this one's for cricket lovers... 
Specifically those who appreciate good hard fought cricket games, irrespective the team.

I know most of you would love to read up on the exciting win India managed over the West Indies... but to me I think we just got lucky. Besides most of you would've followed the game in detail (live feeds) and read up every newspaper column about their recent victories. So it makes no sense for me to write about it here.

The game I'm referrin to... is Mumbai v/s Baroda currently under way. For those who dunno.. this is the SEMI FINAL of the Ranji Trophy (Domestic tournament) that brings out the best state team in the country. While Mumbai have been previous champions in this tournament, Baroda has emerged as a strong contentder post being champions way back in 2001 thanks to ex-India players like J Martin, Parthiv Patel, Irfan Pathan, his brother Younos (yes, he's quite a handy allrounder :-)).

Mumbai after a dismissal start to the season have come back very strongly... mind you they have NO international stars playing for them (except for Ajit Agarkar in the quaterfinal game), but a bunch of talented youngsters with little experience. At one point in time they were close to being eliminated from the Elite group (Top 8 Ranji teams). 

Baroda on the other hand, have had an exceptional start. The team holds a mix of new talents as well as highly experienced players at the Ranji level (thats an upstart of sorts). They have won most matches in the initial rounds and topping their group by a big margin. The confidence with which they've marched forward is the major worry for Mumbai.


Coming to the game underway - Day 1 & 2
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Playing in home condition, Baroda set the tone of the game by winning the toss and putting the opposition to bat on what looked like a green-ish wicket. This to the delight of the quicks (read swing specialist - I Pathan). Baroda usually has good tracks which have a little bit for the bowling as well as the batting sides.

Mumbai looked to play off the first hour cautiously to see of the new ball bowlers... what happened next didnt' exactly work the way they had planned. Wasin Jaffer was the first to be dismissed for a paltry 22 (paltry given his prev. performances for Mumbai). This started a mini-collapse of sorts. From being 32-1 in 9 overs, Mumbai was reduced to 4-75 by the 26th over of the inning. Robin Patel & Pathan played havoc with the red cherry seaming all over. While all this happened, the captian of Mumbai, Amol Muzumdar (true blue servant of Mumbai cricket, highly talented, but the most unluckiest player - never earned the Indian cap) was stranded hoping for someone to stick it out.

The next man (boy should I say) - Abhishek Nair - 20 somethin, left handed bat, bowls right hand medium fast (His dad, Mohan Nair is a good friend of mine... no kiddin). This is his first season in the Mumbai team. Talented fellow, but not a great showing in the tournamant till the quaters. He came in at a time where another wicket goes falls and the tail would follow. Abhishek stood up to the challenge, giving company to his skipper. Together Amol n Abhi out up a 75 run partnership, with AB NAir contributing 30 runs and not allowing the opposition to roll them over. The scoreboard read, 5-145. As expected rest of the team played the skipper who made 97 runs helping the Mumbai reach a respectable total of 233 (all out) of 80 overs.

Baroda came into bat hoping to put up a good show in their home conditions and build a hadnsome lead. Mumbai without the services of Ajit Agarkar had to two talented quicks playing just their second season. With the pitch still firm and seaming around, Swapnil Hazare the right handed quick did just what was needed. He got rid of Baroda's opening batsmen, leaving Baroda reeling at 28-2. What followed next was something they didn't imagine. With AB Nair chipping in a couple of wickets, WA Mota (spinner) picking up nother 3, Baroda folded up for a paltry 142 (all out) of 43 overs. Only batsmen on theor side was Younos Pathan who scored an aggresive 70 at run a ball to save face, Baroda would've just recorded the lowest ever score I'm certain.

Well at the end of the first innings.. turns out Mumbai have an upper hand with a 90+ runs lead... with just 2 days in the game. A result is surely guarnateed... at this point in MUmbai's favor. BUt one never knows... like they say Cricket is a funny game.. don't assume nothin till the FAT lady croooooooons...  

What happened next.. I'll let you guys know as the game unfolds. Till then...
Cheers!

Tags: baroda, mumbai, sports, ranji, cricket