The Malaise that befell Kerala this season haunted it again as the host collapsed spectacularly against Mumbai on the second day of the Ranji Trophy cricket match at the St.Xavier’s College ground here on Saturday.
The inevitability entered the game just 20 minutes before tea when Kerala was cruising at 221 for four. Medium pacer Mohit Avasthi in a dream spell took five wickets for nine runs off 17 deliveries as Kerala crumbled to 244 all out, giving the visitor a narrow lead of seven runs. At stumps, Mumbai openers Jay Bista (59 batting) and Bhupen Lalwani (41 batting) hammered home the advantage by adding 105 runs for the first wicket.
