Mumbai, Vadodara to cross swords in Ranji semi-finals tomorrow

Vadodara, Jan 22 (UNI) An absorbing contest is on the cards when strong contender Vadodara take on mighty Mumbai in their 5-day Ranji Trophy semi-finals beginning at Motibaug Palace ground here tomorrow.

Studded with several promising youngsters and international stalwarts like Irfan Pathan, Rajesh Powar, Wasim Jaffer and Amol Muzumdar, both sides look well balanced in batting as well as bowling even as Mumbai looks a little depleted with Ramesh Powar and medium pacer Ajit Agarkar's return to Team India for the ODI series against the Caribbeans.

Former champions Vadodara, on the other hand, will have a full strength squad at their disposal and would try to avenge their humiliating innings defeat at the hands of Mumbai in the 2002-03 Ranji semifinals on their home ground here.

The two sides had last clashed against each other in an Elite Group match in November 2003, at the Wankhede stadium where Mumbai, led by Paras Mhambrey notched up a facile 5-wicket victory over Connor Williams-led Vadodara.

Both Vadodara skipper Jacob Martin and his Mumbai counterpart Amol Muzumdar feel that both sides are at par. The two skippers promised to leave no stone unturned to move to the finals of this premier national cricket championship.

Mumbai, who bowed out of the championship in 2004-05 and 2005-06 losing to Punjab and defending champions Uttar Pradesh respectively in the semi-finals, will be facing a very tough challenge this time from Vadodara, as the side that topped Group 'A' with 17 points seems to be a strong favourite for the trophy.

After some initial hiccups, Mumbai fought back this season and managed to finish second in Group 'B' with 15 points and qualify for the semi-finals for the third consecutive year.

This match will also provide out-of-form Irfan Pathan yet another opportunity to prove his bowling prowess to be recalled to Team India for the remaining two ODIs against the visiting West Indies.

The Vadodara bomber, who had so far played two league matches for Vadodara after he was sent back home midway from South Africa last month following his poor show, was still struggling to regain his form. In his two matches against Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, Irfan has been able to grab only six wickets for 226 runs, though he has batted with confidence in two of the four innings scoring 122.

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