Karnataka-Mumbai final

[coffee_rules]

Mumbai, Karnataka to clash in Ranji Trophy final Holders Mumbai [ Images ] earned yet another shot at the Ranji Trophy title as they entered the final of the domestic cricket championship on the basis of the first innings lead over Delhi [ Images ] in the semi-final, which ended in a draw in Mumbai on Wednesday. The huge 289 runs first innings lead the 38-time champions took on Wednesday was enough to pilot them to a five-day final against Karnataka [ Images ]. Six-time winners Karnataka made the summit clash by the virtue of their first innings lead over Uttar Pradesh [ Images ] in the other semi-final, which also ended in a draw, in Bangalore. The final is in Mysore, from January 11 to 15. Mumbai, who entered the final for the 43rd time, were bundled out for 187 in their second essay on Wednesday, with Delhi spin twins Vikas Mishra (6-49) and Aditya Jain (4-43) sharing the wickets. Chasing 477 to win, Delhi then put up 160 for four, left-hand opener Shikhar Dhawan [ Images ] (40) being the top-scorer. Mumbai left-arm slow bowler Iqbal Abdulla grabbed three for 53 before play was called off by mutual consent. Delhi's inability to grab the early advantage of having reduced the holders to 85 for three before lunch on Day 1 was the turning point, according to Mumbai captain Wasim Jaffer [ Images ]. The visitors allowed Mumbai to surge to a match-deciding first innings score, Abishek Nayar's gutsy 156 being the cornerstone. "Abhishek Nayar [ Images ] played a great knock. We believed in him when he said he was fit and he proved it. His partnership with Onkar Khanvilkar, who has been in and out of the team, when we were 85 for three was the turning point," Jaffer said. Nayar, who is to undergo rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore due to a hand injury, added 145 runs with Khanvilkar (70) to swing fortunes Mumbai's way. Mumbai's skipper said he was a bit wary going into the match because Delhi had got past Tamil Nadu, the top team in the league stage, in the quarter-finals. "I was a bit concerned going into the match as Delhi felt they were the favourites and had beaten Tamil Nadu, the top team in our group," he said. Jaffer also expressed satisfaction with his bowlers' performance in skittling out Delhi for a lowly first innings total, but expressed concern at the failure of the top order ahead of the final. "Ramesh Powar [ Images ] bowled well on this wicket which aided spin. Once we put 500 on the board we had the edge," Jaffer said. Incidentally, Mumbai will meet Karnataka in the final of the national championship after a quarter of a century. Their last meeting in the summit clash was in 1982-83 in Mumbai, with Karnataka emerging champions. http://static.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1980S/1982-83/IND_LOCAL/RANJI/KNOCK-OUTS/BOM_KNTKA_RJI-FINAL_11-15MAR1983.html

[Show_stopper]

Abhimanyu Mithun to run through Mumbai...can't wait to watch this live.

[Shane]

:((

[cowboysfan]

hope to see a lively pitch,mumbai batsmen are the biggest FTBs in indian cricket.

[ViruRulez]

I think Karnataka has the edge this time round. They are also lucky because no Karnataka player is in the national team and so they are not missing any important players. Even Dravid is in the team as he is not part of the ODI team. All the other three semi finalists are missing the important players due to national duties. Mumbai is missing Sachin and Zak, UP is missing Raina and Tyagi while Delhi is missing Sehwag, Gauti, Kohli and Nehra. So, Karnataka are also lucky to some extent as they are the only team who are not missing any players whereas every other semi finalists were missing all the crucial players.

[ViruRulez]

hope to see a lively pitch' date='mumbai batsmen are the biggest FTBs in indian cricket.[/quote'] GOD is also from Mumbai :aetsch:

[urbestfriend]

:haha: excuses bloody excuses :haha: Karnataka would've thrashed any team with any number of star players with current form. Now lets see how we thrash Mumbai without our key batsman dravid :two_thumbs_up:

[Dinx - the Jinx]

I think Karnataka has the edge this time round. They are also lucky because no Karnataka player is in the national team and so they are not missing any important players. Even Dravid is in the team as he is not part of the ODI team. All the other three semi finalists are missing the important players due to national duties. Mumbai is missing Sachin and Zak, UP is missing Raina and Tyagi while Delhi is missing Sehwag, Gauti, Kohli and Nehra. So, Karnataka are also lucky to some extent as they are the only team who are not missing any players whereas every other semi finalists were missing all the crucial players.

Dravid said his participation in the finals is not confirmed yet. It depends on by what date Team Indiaa wants him at Dhaka and also whether the finals can start one day early... We need to wait..

[Dinx - the Jinx]

hope to see a lively pitch' date=mumbai batsmen are the biggest FTBs in indian cricket.

The match is going to be played at Mysore, not Bangalore... Sounds like a good seaming pitch..

[ViruRulez]

:haha: excuses bloody excuses :haha: Karnataka would've thrashed any team with any number of star players with current form. Now lets see how we thrash Mumbai without our key batsman dravid :two_thumbs_up:

Veeru and Gauti alone would have taken care of the whole Karnkata team if they were present. :finger: Veeru, Gauti, Kohli and Nehra would have made Delhi an international standard team leave apart a domestic team. :winky:

[urbestfriend]

Our rookie fast bowlers are enough to take care of your international quality FTBs :finger:

[msb1991]

It is the Ranji Trophy final, who knows, we may see Sachin in action (I won't, living in England, but you lucky folks in India just might). An ODI tri series would be infinitely more tiring than a single Ranji Trophy final and so Tendulkar could not be accused of hypocrisy and he'll really strengthen the Mumbai batting line up. I also hope that Dhawal Kulkarni plays, he has had a quiet year and missed out on the semi final for some reason (I hope he wasn't dropped) but the final could be a good way to make an impact and make up for this season. Am quietly rooting for Karnataka, simply because I'd like to see their promising duo of R Vinay Kumar and A Mithun bowl well. It is good to see the top two wicket takers for the Ranji Trophy being pace bowlers who are both renowned to bowl in the 130kph+ region and so have at least some potential to succeed at international level.

[Rajiv]

I also think Kaan Ka Taka will win

[Guest Hiten.]

Both of the teams chose easy route to the finals despite getting a HUGE lead in the semi's. None of them had balls to force follow on and actually try to win the game. Whoever watches Indian domestic competition must be bored to death, as teams play to "bat out" the opposition and capture first innings lead. I don't give a fark to who lifts the trophy, because tbh none of the Indian domestic teams are worth spending time in. This is the mentality that blocked us from winning 2-0 series against pakistan, england and NZ despite being A LOT better than them :wall:.