With a first-innings lead of 214 runs over Services, Mumbai have made it to the Ranji Trophy final for the 44th time, setting up a title clash with Saurashtra.
Having lost two full days to Delhi’s poor weather, Mumbai declared their innings at 454/8 on Day 5 and skittled out their opponents for 240 on the reserve day.
Resuming at their overnight score of 164/3, Services lost their set batsmen, Soumya Swain (74) and Yashpal Singh (58), pretty early, thereby jolting any chance of overtaking the Mumbai total.
Dhawal Kulkarni ran through the Services line-up, claiming a rather miserly five-wicket haul in 21.4 overs. By knocking out the last wicket of the Services innings, Kulkarni finished with figures of 5/33. He bowled with the fire and accuracy as suggested by the mode in which he dismissed his five victims. He got three batsmen caught by wicketkeeper Aditya Tare, trapped one batter lbw and disturbed the timber behind his other victim. Tare was kept busy behind the stumps, as he took four catches in the innings.
Kulkarni was supported well by fellow pacer Shardul Thakur, who picked up three wickets. Vishal Dabholkar and Ankeet Chavan claimed one scalp each, while Mumbai skipper Ajit Agarkar went wicketless.
Mumbai will now meet Saurashtra in the final at the Wankhede Stadium from January 26 as they try to win their 40th Ranji Trophy title.
