Mumbai speedster Swapnil Hazare struck thrice to reduce Punjab's first innings to 70 for five on the penultimate day of the four-day Elite Group 'A' Ranji Trophy cricket match at Mohali on Saturday.

In reply to the defending champions' first innings score of 224, Punjab were in dire straits losing wickets at regular intervals.

The hosts now face an uphill task of reaching the semifinals. Mumbai, with 20 points, are the first to qualify from the group to the knock out stage.

Hazare came up with some incisive bowling to dismiss opener Munish Sharma (18), Pankaj Dharmani (15) and Reetinder Singh Sodhi (0).

The visitors got an early breakthrough when opener Ravneet Ricky failed to read an incoming delivery from Usman Malvi and bowled for seven when the team's score was 11.

Punjab lost two wickets at the total of 45 which tilted the balance in favour of Mumbai. At close of play Samrat and Chandan Madan were batting at 11 and 12 respectively.

Earlier, Mumbai, resuming at their overnight score of 180 for 8, added valuable 44 runs before their first innings terminated at 224.

Robin Morris was the top scorer with 81, which included 11 hits to the fence and one six.

Scoreboard:

Mumbai (Ist innings):
V Mane lbw b Gagandeep                 19
W Jaffar c Ricky b Sharma                  1
B Thakker c Madan b Sharma             0
A Mazumdar c Sanwal b Gagandeep   55
V Kambli lbw b Uniyal                        17
R Powar c Madan b Gagandeep           0
R Morris c Madan b Sodhi                  81
N Kulkarni c Madan b Uniyal               2
V Samant b Gagandeep                        0
Usman Malvi b Gagandeep                 25
S Hazare not out                                  1

Extras (b-2, lb-15, nb-6)         23

Total (all out)                  224

Fall of wickets: 1-12, 2-16, 3-36, 4-67, 5-70, 6-149,7-160,  8-161, 9-218.

Bowling: Gagandeep 31.5-13-68-5, Vineet Sharma 9-4-24-2, Amit  Uniyal 24-4-92-2, Reetinder Sodhi 11-4-23-1.

Punjab (Ist innings):
R Ricky b Usman                       7
M Sharma c & b Hazare           18
kakkar lbw b Usman                  4
P Dharmani c Samant b Hazare 15
R Sodhi c Jaffar b Hazare           0
Samrat not out                           11
C Madan not out                      12

Extras (lb-2, nb-1)  3

Total (for 5 wickets)           70

Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-23, 3-45, 4-45, 5-52.

Bowling: Usman 13-6-28-2, Hazare 11-3-27-3, Morris 7-1-13-0, Powar 1-1-0-0.