Haren
Run and wickets in the Duleep Trophy gave Shams Mulani hope of having an outside chance of breaking into the India A squad that is currently touring Australia. But it was not to be for the 27-year-old left-arm spinner.
However, he continues to keep at it in Ranji Trophy cricket to prove that he has the skill and the fitness for a higher-level of cricket. His six-wicket haul (6/115) was key in Mumbai bundling out Odisha for 285 after posting 602 for 4. Odisha were struggling at 115 for 6 after Mumbai decided to enforce the follow on. Mulani picked up the big wicket of Sandeep Pattnaik, the first-innings centurion.
On a pitch where there was turn and bounce along with a bit of grass cover, Himanshu, who has an action similar to Ravichandran Ashwin’s, bowled with good control to take 3/53. At stumps, Odisha wicketkeeper-batter Aashirwad Swain (46 not out) was holding front.
Odisha still trails by 191 runs and making Mumbai bat again will require a special innings from the lower order.
Mulani is happy about being among the wickets. Talking about missing the India A bus for Australia, Mulani said, “It is disappointing. But that is how life is, a lot of people don’t get selected. My job is to keep on bowling and help my team and keep (up) the standards,” Mulani said after stumps on day three. “I have to keep working hard, bowling on tracks that are tough to bowl on. Bowling 30 to 35 overs so that I can showcase my fitness as well,” Mulani added.
When asked about his fifer, Mulani said, “It feels really good to pick up a fifer after a very long time. I was taking 3-4 wickets and finally I got the fifer. It was very important for me and for the team as well, we need this outright (win) and we are moving in the right direction.”
Earlier in the day, Odisha resumed on 146 for 5. Overnight batsman Sandeep Pattnaik, who was batting on 73, went on to score a century. Pattnaik’s innings comprised 11 fours and four sixes.
Brief Scores: Mumbai 602/4 decl. lead Odisha 285 in 94.3 overs (Sandeep Pattanaik 102; Shams Mulani 6/115) & 126/5 in 42 overs (F/O) (Aashirwad Swain 46*; Himanshu Singh 3/45) by 191 runs.
