Mumbai rode on another superb bowling performance by Zaheer Khan to clinch the Ranji Trophy for the 37th time, staving off a spirited batting effort by Bengal to beat them by 132 runs at the Wankhede Stadium

The Bulletin by Anand Vasu in Mumbai05-Feb-2007
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out

Zaheer Khan ended with nine wickets for the match, and was easily the playerwho made the most difference. © Getty Images
Mumbai raced to their 37th Ranji Trophy title in fine style, beatingBengal by 132 runs shortly after tea on the fourth day. Magnificentinnings from Manoj Tiwary and Sourav Ganguly kept Bengal in the hunt, but in the end the combined firepower of Zaheer Khan and Ajit Agarkar proved too much to resist, as the last six wickets fell for the addition of only five runs and Bengal folded for 339.While Ganguly was at the crease there was room for the faithful to hopethat Bengal might pull off something sensational, but when he fell – againto Zaheer – pulling and only managing to lob a high catch to Ramesh Powarat midwicket, Bengal had lost their prize wicket with 338 on theboard. Ganguly was visibly upset with himself when he lost his wicket, butcan take joy from the 90 that he made.The end came when Ashok Dinda attempted to heave Zaheer over the ropes andholed out to Abhishek Nair at midwicket. The 19-strong Mumbai squad rushedas one to the pitch, plucking out stumps for souvenirs and celebrating.Zaheer ended with nine wickets for the match, and was easily the playerwho made the most difference.Tiwary’s bold strokeplay had Mumbai running for cover, and huntingleather, for the best part of the first two sessions. On the third day itwas Deep Dasgupta who led from the front, ducking, weaving, dabbing anddefending, keeping Agarkar and Zaheer at bay. When the fourth day dawned,with Bengal on 98 for 2, it was clear that the initial plan was to justoccupy the crease, even if it meant that no runs came. Both Dasgupta, andthe usually aggressive Tiwary, left alone more than they played at, andforced the bowlers to bowl to them.To Bengal’s credit, they battled hard for the best part of the day, makingMumbai work hard for their wickets. Tiwary was terrific in his shotselection, committing wholeheartedly when he played the big shots and yetnot committing early to front or back foot. With the pitch having easedout considerably, Zaheer found the going tough, and was operating belowfull pace. He slanted the ball away from the right-handers, andoccasionally caused a bit of hesitation when he got his line right, butthe absence of inswing vastly reduced his wicket-taking options.Tiwary sensed that Zaheer was flagging, and took him on. The shot of theday being a clean hit over mid-off that sailed the distance and went forsix. In the course of his innings, Tiwary became the highest run-getter ina single season for Bengal. Arun Lal held the record, but Tiwary alreadyhas 776 and looks far from finished.The one spot of joy for Mumbai in an otherwise fruitless morning came whenDasgupta fell, against the run of play. A momentary lapse in concentrationmade Dasgupta chase a delivery outside the off stump, and this onlyresulted in a nick for Vinayak Samant to pouch behind the stumps. Onceagain Wilkin Mota had struck, and Dasgupta was gone for a well made 57. To Bengal’s credit, they battled hard for the best part of the day, makingMumbai work hard for their wickets. Tiwary was terrific in his shotselection, committing wholeheartedly when he played the big shots and yetnot committing early to front or back foot. Ganguly walked out to the middle with plenty to do, and fortunatelyfor Bengal was in good nick. He was fluent from the word go, and playedsome pleasing shots, especially square of the wicket on the off side. BothZaheer and Agarkar were handled easily as Ganguly timed the ball away inthe arc between point and cover, picking up boundaries early on in hisinnings.On a pitch that was affording turn Ramesh Powar was ineffective, andGanguly was able to easily leave the ball alone to begin with, and thenpick off singles at will, even occasionally lofting the ball for plenty.In the company of Rohan Gavaskar, who unfurled an array of strokes on bothsides of the wicket, Ganguly kept Bengal well on target for an amazingwin. Gavaskar was especially severe on Zaheer, who sprayed the ball arounda bit and made it hard for Amol Muzumdar to set fields. But, when Agarkargot Gavaskar to nibble at one outside off, and had him caught behind,Mumbai had the foot in the door that they needed.Bengal went from a strong 270 for 3 to 335 for 7 by tea, and hopes of agrand win fast receded. After Gavaskar was dismissed Zaheer snaffled twoquick wickets, bowling Laxmi Ratan Shukla for a duck and following it upby trapping Sourashish Lahiri in front of the stumps. And soon after, thewheels came off, giving Mumbai yet another win in the premier domesticcompetition.