Mumbai were off to a jittery start in the West Zone Twenty20 League. Needing just four runs to beat hosts Baroda in the last over with six wickets in hand, the Ranji champions just about managed to reach the target with a single off the final delivery at the Motibagh Stadium on Wednesday. Mumbai almost made a hash of a modest total of 122, but skipper Wasim Jaffer played a steady knock of an unbeaten 55 that ensured the visitors win the first round encounter by six wickets.
The start to the chase was not easy for Mumbai as they lost opener Paul Valthaty when the scoreboard read just seven. It was up to the second wicket pair of Jaffer and Ajinkya Rahane to give them a good platform. The duo put on a 46-run stand before Rahane was dismissed by left-arm spinner Swapnil Singh.
Though they had been given a proper footing by the second wicket pair, Mumbai found themselves wanting as Parag Khanapurkar struggled to find the gaps and rotate the strike. However, the pair somehow went on to reach a half-century partnership, before Khanapurkar stepped out in desperation against Singh only to get out stumped. His innings proved costly for Mumbai as he scored just 21 off 32 balls.
This was not the end of woes for Mumbai. They were struck by a big blow when Abhishek Nayar fell in the same over.
Mumbai needed only 21 runs at this stage but wickets kept falling at one end. However, the experienced Jaffer held his nerve at the other end.
Though the task appeared easy for the chasers, it wasn’t so as Baroda bowlers kept things tight. As a result, the match headed for a close finish with Mumbai needing four off the last six balls, which they reached with a single off the last ball.
Mumbai coach Praveen Amre after the match said: “It was a nail biting finish. However, we should have won the match in the 18th over itself. It is good to get a win in the first match as you get the momentum.”
Brief scores: Baroda 122/4 in 20 overs (A Rayudu 45, R Raje 2/29) lost to Mumbai 126/4 in 20 overs (W Jaffer 55*, S Singh 3/21); Maharashtra 147/5 in 20 overs (H Khadiwale 88) beat Gujarat 125/7 in 20 overs (A Darekar 3/26)
