Mumbai post fluent 32 run win over Baroda

Star-studded Mumbai led by skipper Wasim Jaffer recorded a convincing 32-run win over Baroda in the first ever West Zone Twenty 20 league championship that got underway here today.

The league tie, played at the Deccan Gymkhana ground, saw Baroda skipper Yusuf Pathan called correctly on the spin of the coin but put the rival into bat in the tailor made conditions as the Deccan Gymkhana pith offered bounce and nip .

Mumbai coasted to 190 runs for nine in the stipulated 20 overs in reply to 158 for eight of Baroda in their Stipulated twenty overs.

The Mumbai-run riot was started by their opener skipper Wasim Jaffer and Paul Valthathy. Paul rattled an electrifying knock of 70 from 45 balls (11x4s 2x6), while Jaffer's 31 ball essay of 37 had six fours as the pair put up a 106 runs stand for the opening wicket which turned out to be the match winner. Rohit Sharma scored a sizzling knock of 47 from 36 ball, inclusive of 4x4s and three sixes.

The young trio Baroda seamers of Salim Vairagi, Firdaus Bhoja and Murtuza Vahora, lacking in experiance, failed to produce the desired result. Bhoja proved the bet claiming three for 43 from his four overs, while Vahora took two for 27, but it was all-rounder Yusuf Pathan who made the breakthrough having both the Mumbai openers in his bag. He had finished with two for 37, while leftarmspinner Rajesh Pawar had one for 35.

In reply, Baroda who found the going rather tough with the rival trio of seamers, spearheaded by Zaheer Khan, Dhaval Kulkarni and seasoned Ajit Agarkar. Zaheer, who was in the Mumbai Indian camp, which was held in Baroda recently and started bowling there after suffering a shoulder injury. Zaheer bowled reasonably well but appeared to have not regained his perfect shape. He took one for 31, while Agarkar had three for 38. Baroda openers Irshad Sindhi (18) and Azar Bilakia (21) put on 38 runs for the opening stand, but the others with the exception of skipper Pathan, who scored 24 from ten balls with five fours and Sailesh Solanki 30 off 22 balls with three sixes and later Ketan Panchal late flourish 20 gave some selblene to their total as they could manage 158 for eight from their alloted 20 overs.

Later, Baroda manager Mukesh Narula said that the young team failed to put up sizeable score as 200 was easily possible. ''We also lacked expereince in our seamers and hopely they will atone in the rest of four league ties,'' Mr Narula said.

The Mumbai manager Pravin Amre said that the wicket was excellent and the out field quite fast, which produced the runs.

Brief Scores: 190 for nine in 20 overs (Paul Valthathy 70, Wasim Jaffer 37, Rohit Sharma 47, Firdaush Bhoja 3/43, Murtuza Vahora 2/27, Yusuf Pathan 2/37, Rajesh Pawar 1/35) beat Baroda 158 for 8 in 20 overs (Yusuf Pathan 24, Azar Bilakia 21, Sailesh Solanki 30, Ketan Panchal 20, Ajit Agarkar 3/38, Zaheer Khan 1/31, Dhaval Kulkarni 1/33, Paul Valthathy 1/13).

-- (UNI) -- 20SPB6.xml

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