Ranji Trophy: Shams Mulani, Akash Anand rescue Mumbai with crucial half-centuries against Railways

MUMBAI: Shams Mulani and Akash Anand have been involved in many rescue acts for Mumbai. On Tuesday, they once again came to the team's aid, scoring crucial half-centuries to help Mumbai post 396 on Day Two of their Group D clash against Railways at the Brabourne Stadium.At stumps, Railways were 116/2 in 35 overs, still trailing Mumbai by 280 runs.Resuming at 247/6, Mumbai needed their lower order to bat as long as possible on a wicket that was slowing down under the searing sun. Mulani and Anand did just that, putting their heads down, keeping the scoreboard ticking and stitching together an 82-run partnership off 150 balls for the seventh wicket. Against the run of play, Anand was trapped leg-before by Himanshu Sangwan (4/88). The wicketkeeper-batter scored 52 off 71 balls, with seven fours, registering the third half-century of his first-class career.It was the second crucial partnership Anand has been involved in this season. The first was a 210-run fifth-wicket stand with Sarfaraz Khan against Himachal Pradesh, which came off 344 balls. Anand had gone on to score an unbeaten 117 in that match.Mulani, who made 71 off 153 balls with seven fours, continued to forge small but valuable partnerships down the order to stretch Mumbai's total. He first added 35 runs off 56 balls for the eighth wicket with Tanush Kotian (20, 30b; 1x4, 1x6) and then 29 off 47 balls for the final wicket with Mohit Avasthi (15*, 21b; 1x4, 1x6) before becoming the last batter to be dismissed.Mulani said after the day's play that it was crucial for him and Anand to spend time in the middle. "The wicket got a bit slower and it wasn't swinging much because the conditions were sunny. But we negotiated the important first half-hour well and then capitalised on the loose balls. It put pressure on them, they spread the field, and we could easily rotate the strike," said Mulani, who brought up his 23rd first-class half-century.By the time Railways walked out to bat an hour before tea, the wicket had slowed down and was easier to bat on than it had been at the same stage on the opening day under overcast conditions, when Mumbai skipper Siddhesh Lad and Sarfaraz Khan were busy pulling out Mumbai from a hole they were in.With not much help, Mumbai's bowlers ensured they operated in the right channels and to the field, preventing Railways from scoring quickly. Railways got off to a solid start through openers Vivek Singh (38, 50b; 8x4) and Sahab Singh (33, 76b; 4x4), reaching 62 in 17 overs before Vivek retired hurt after being struck by a delivery from Avasthi.That provided the opening Mumbai were looking for and, within the next 10 overs, they removed two more Railways batters. Tanush Kotian (1/12) had Sahab caught behind in his second over of the innings, and seven balls later Mulani (1/29) deceived Eshaan Goyal, who chipped a catch straight to Siddhesh Lad at cover.Tushar Deshpande, who bowled with venom throughout the day, could have had Railways captain Bhargav Merai off a bouncer, but Musheer Khan lost sight of the ball in the sun at fine leg and, by the time he picked up its trajectory, it had bounced in front of him.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.