Ranji Trophy 2026-27: Mulani, Anand fifties take Mumbai to 396 before Railways makes steady start

File Image: Shams Mulani scored 71 as Mumbai posted 396 in its first innings against Railways on the second day. | Photo Credit: ALLEN EGENUSE J

Railways may have arrived at the Brabourne Stadium on the back of a one-sided defeat against Tamil Nadu, but it showed little sign of carrying that baggage into its Ranji Trophy Group D clash against Mumbai.

On a flat surface offering little assistance to the bowlers, its batters showed considerable application to finish the second day at 116 for 2, after restricting Mumbai to 396.

Mumbai, resuming at 247 for six, added 149 runs, with Shams Mulani and Akash Anand scoring half-centuries. But Railways kept chipping away, with Himanshu Sangwan claiming four wickets and Raj Choudhury picking up three.

Anand and Mulani added 82 runs for the seventh wicket before Sangwan trapped the former leg before, shortly after he had completed his third first-class fifty (52, 71b, 7x4).

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Mulani, meanwhile, kept things moving, finding useful support from Tanush Kotian and Tushar Deshpande. He brought up his 23rd first-class half-century (71, 153b, 7x4) with a crisp cover drive off Sangwan, but Railways’ disciplined bowling ensured Mumbai fell four runs short of the 400-mark.

The home side responded with intent.

Openers Sahab Yuvraj Singh and Vivek Singh came out attacking, adding 62 runs before the latter was forced to retire hurt after being struck on the back while attempting to evade a Mohit Avasthi bouncer. Vivek’s brief stay was particularly eventful. He scored 38 off 50 balls, with 32 of those runs coming through fours.

While Mumbai’s fast bowlers tried the short-ball ploy, spinner Tanush Kotian struck first, having Sahab caught behind. Shams Mulani followed up by removing Eshaan Goyal in the next over, briefly shifting the momentum Mumbai’s way. But Mohammad Saif and captain Bhargav Merai steadied the innings, putting together an unbeaten 34-run stand. Though Railways still trailed by 280 runs, Saif and Merai looked assured at the crease and negotiated the testing spells with confidence.

THE SCORES

Mumbai – 1st innings: Divyaansh Saxena c Ahuja (sub) b Sangwan 39, Angkrish Raghuvanshi c Ahuja (sub) b Sangwan 78, Musheer Khan c sub (Ahuja) b Adarsh 4, Siddhesh Lad b Sangwan 47, Sarfaraz Khan c Ahuja (sub) b Adarsh 55, Akash Anand lbw b Sangwan 52, Suryansh Shedge c Merai b Saif 1, Shams Mulani c&b Raj 71, Tanush Kotian c Vivek b Raj 20, Tushar Deshpande c Mondal b Raj 5, Mohit Avasthi (not out) 15; Extras: (b-9): 9; Total (in 123.3 overs) 396.

Fall of wickets: 1-109, 2-120, 3-128, 4-226, 5-232, 6-238, 7-320, 8-355, 9-367.

Railways – 1st innings: Sahab Yuvraj Singh c Anand v Kotian 33, Vivek Singh (retired hurt) 38, Eshaan Goyal c Lad b Mulani 8, Mohammad Saif (batting) 29, Bhargav Merai (batting) 7; Extras: (wd-1): 1; Total (for 2 wkts. in 35 overs) 116.

Fall of wickets: 1-80, 2-82.

Railways bowling: Sangwan 30-6-88-4, Adarsh 21-5-83-2, Raj 30-1-81-3, Ali 3.5-0-11-0, Mondal 11-0-56-0, Sahab 18-3-51-0, Merai 3.1-1-5-0, Vivek 1-0-2-0, Saif 5-2-10-1.

Mumbai bowling: Deshpande 12-2-41-0, Avasthi 7-1-20-0, Shedge 4-0-14-0, Mulani 8-1-29-1, Kotian 4-0-12-1.