Mumbai, Jan 11: After a determined batting effort by their lower-order, the Tamil Nadu bowlers ran through Mumbai’s top-order on Day 2 of the ongoing semifinal between the two sides. The hosts were trailing by 238 with four wickets in hand at stumps at the Wankhede stadium with Hiken Shah (21) and Dhawal Kulkarni (5) at the crease.

Resuming on the overnight score of 250 for six, R Prasanna and V Yo Mahesh added 41 runs in the morning before Abhishek Nayar uprooted the former’s off-stump. The first breakthrough for Mumbai came an hour into the day’s play, by which time Prasanna had reached his century. Dhawal Kulkarni and Balwinder Singh Sandhu (Jr.) erred in line and length allowing the batsmen to settle down.

The Mumbai skipper’s fielding and bowling changes baffled spectators as the lower-order added valuable runs to the TN total. It was only an over before lunch that Wasim Jaffer handed the ball to his most experienced bowler, Ramesh Powar. The off-spinner responded with the wicket of L Balaji off the second ball of his over to end the first session.

After lunch, Kshemal Waingankar trapped Yo Mahesh lbw for 67 and Sandhu wrapped up the TN innings with the wicket of J Kaushik to finish with a five-for. The last four wickets had cost Mumbai 220 runs.

Chasing 359, Mumbai suffered a big blow as they lost Kaustubh Pawar, Onkar Gurav and Jaffer in quick succession with just 14 runs on the board. After sending back Pawar off the last ball of his previous over, the Tamil Nadu skipper claimed Gurav off the first ball of his next. Although Balaji was unfortunate to have missed out on a hat-trick, the pacer was fortunate to get the key wicket of Jaffer who was adjudged lbw despite an inside edge.

Mumbai’s woes continued into the final session as they continued to lose wickets at regular intervals. Nayar departed in the second over after tea attempting a scoop shot off spinner R Aushik Srinivas that landed in the hands of K Vasudevadas. A little while later, SK Yadav who has been in good form, walked back after nicking Yo Mahesh to Dinesh Karthik for 52. Ankeet Chavan, who had replaced him in the middle, was then sent back by Kaushik to leave the hosts reeling on 98 for the loss of six wickets.

It will take an inspired performance from Mumbai if they are to keep their hopes of another Ranji title alive. Much will depend on the fight their lower-order puts up when play resumes on Day 3.

Scorecard