The seasoned spin duo of Shams Mulani and Tanush Kotian became catalysts of Rest of India’s sudden middle-order collapse that saw them lose six wickets for only 23 runs, giving Mumbai the upper hand in the ongoing Irani Cup contest despite Abhimanyu Easwaran’s heroic innings of 191.

In reply to Mumbai’s first innings score of 537, RoI were cruising along at 393/4, riding on Easwaran and Dhruv Jurel’s (93) 165-run stand for the fifth wicket.

However, left-arm spinner Mulani (3/122 in 40 overs) broke Rest’s resistance with quick dismissals of the two set batters in a space of 10 minutes to give the match a decisive turn on the fourth day.

Off-spinner Kotian (3/101 in 27 overs) then polished off the tail as RoI were all out for 416, handing a 121-run first innings lead to Mumbai.

Prithvi Shaw (76 off 105 balls) then came out all guns blazing as the ball started turning square with Mumbai finishing the day at 153/6
with an overall lead of 274. Shaw, realising that survival was difficult on a fourth-day track, attacked relentlessly in the first few overs.

RoI off-spinner Saransh Jain (4/67 in 18 overs) and left-arm spinner Manav Suthar (2/40 in 17 overs) looked way more menacing in the second essay with a lot of deliveries keeping low along with appreciable turn on offer.

On a track which looked like a batting paradise for better part of the first three days, 12 wickets fell on Day 4 with spinners accounting for 11 of them.

Survival is extremely difficult and even if Rest chases something in the range of 325 in 75 overs, it will be an uphill task to face Mulani and Kotian on an abrasive surface where one needs to put the ball in the right areas, allowing the track to do the rest.

Brief scores: Mumbai 537 & 153/6 (Prithvi Shaw 76; Saransh Jain 4/67). Rest of India 416 (Abhimanyu Easwaran 191, Dhruv Jurel 93). At stumps, Day IV.