Shams Mulani (TOI Photo)
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. Because the conditions were sunny, “The wicket got a bit slower and it wasn’t swinging much.
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.
Mulani said after the day’s play that it was crucial for him and Anand to spend time in the middle. 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. It was the second crucial partnership Anand has been involved in this season. But we negotiated the important first half-hour well and then capitalised on the loose balls.
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. 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.
MUMBAI: Shams Mulani and Akash Anand have been involved in many rescue acts for Mumbai.