Mumbai upstage Karnataka to win 39th Ranji title

New Delhi:

Mumbai defeated Karnataka by 6 runs in an exciting final to win the 2009-2010 Ranji Trophy at the Gangothri Glades Cricket Ground in Mysore.

With this win, Mumbai have extended their record of most Ranji Trophy titles to 39.

In reply to Mumbai's 233 & 234, Karnataka were bundled out for 130 & 331 on Day 4. Overnight 135 for three, Karnataka gave a mighty scare to Mumbai as they very nearly chased down the mammoth 338-run target set by Wasim Jaffer's men.

Ajit Agarkar was the wrecker-in-chief for the defending champions with a five-wicket haul as Karnataka's batting, except for Manish Pandey, collapsed under pressure.

Pandey combined for a 209-run fourth-wicket partnership with Ganesh Satish, who was the second highest scorer for the team with a patient 215-ball 75. Pandey's knock, that came off just 151 balls, included 18 fours and a six. Pandey, who slammed a brilliant 144 runs and kept hopes alive, was dismissed by Mumbai's Iqbal Abdullah 26.3 overs after the start of the play.

And from there on, wickets fell like a pack of cards. Amit Verma walked back scoring two runs. Two runs later G Satish was caught plumb in front of the wicket by Dhawal Kulkarni and that ended his knock of 75 runs.

Just when Stuart Binny and Sunil Joshi tried building a stand, the former was done in by Kulkarni for 13 runs. Seven runs later, Joshi perished to Ajit Agarkar for 16 runs.

Kulkarni and Agarkar hurried the wipe out as they removed Vinay Kumar and S Arvind for 15 and 10 runs respectively.

This closely contested final would remembered for the outstanding performances of Vinayak Samant (67), Avishkar Salvi (5 for 31), Daval Kulkarni (87 and 3 for 80), Ajit Agarkar (5 for 81), Manish Pandey (144), Abhimanyu Mithun (3 for 56 and 6 for 71) and R Vinay Kumar (4 for 61 and 3 for 78).