Mumbai enter Ranji Trophy final

Mumbai bowlers, helped by poor decisions by umpire Amish Saheba, wrapped up Saurashtra's first innings for 379 to ensure themselves a place in this year's Ranji Trophy final.

After getting the vital first innings lead of 258 runs, Mumbai were 42 for one when bad light forced the players into the dressing room. And then it was followed by a consistent drizzle, which brought an end to the proceedings. The play was officially called off at 3.20 pm.

While Rohit Sharma remained unbeaten on 30, Amol Muzumdar, who needed 40 runs to become the highest run-getter in the Ranji Trophy, was caught behind off Ravindra Jadeja for nine.

Earlier, after Saurashtra resumed their innings at 247 for five on the final day of the semi-final at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in reply to Mumbai's 637 for 6 decl, Dhawal Kulkarni struck a double blow in the third over of the day.

He first got rid of Saurashtra skipper Jaydev Shah (49) who was brilliantly caught at point by substitute fielder Ankit Chavan. Four balls later, Kulkarni forced Sagar Jogiyani to nick one to Rohit Sharma in the slip cordon.

Overnight batsman Kamlesh Makwana (56 not out) and Rakesh Dhruve (44) then frustrated the Mumbai bowlers with a 103-run stand for the eighth wicket. The partnership was broken immediately after the lunch break when umpire Saheba adjudged Dhruve lbw despite Ramesh Powar's ball hitting the batsman on the full outside leg stump.

Seven overs after that, Powar forced Sandeep Jobanputra to offer a dolly to Mumbai skipper Wasim Jaffer at first slip.

And in Powar's next over, Saheba ruled last man Balakrishna Jadeja (2) caught behind the wicket when the replays showed that the ball had touched nothing on its way to the keeper.

While Powar (4-108) was the most successful bowler for Mumbai, Kulkarni (3-82) came back well after a below-par performance on the third day.

Mumbai now play the winner between Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh in the final to be played in Hyderabad from January 12.