A gritty hundred by Ajinkya Rahane ensured Mumbai recovered from an early collapse to finish the first day of their Ranji Trophy match against Chhattisgarh on 251 for 5. But it was a day to forget for Sarfaraz Khan, snubbed by the national selectors for even the India A series against the South African counterparts.
The Bandra-Kurla Complex has a reputation for being seamer-friendly over the past few years, which would have prompted the visitors to put the opposition in.
Opener Musheer Khan was caught and bowled by Aditya Sarwate in the ninth over and two overs later, Angrish Raghuvanshi was trapped in front playing across the line to pacer Ravi Kiran. In a surprising move, Mumbai promoted off-spinner Himanshu Singh, who lasted just four balls to be dismissed leg before to Kiran.
At 38 for 3, Mumbai needed their most experienced batter Rahane, a former India captain, to bail them out. He wasn’t in total control in the beginning, getting his footwork in order and getting used to the pitch. The odd balls did bounce disconcertingly but on the three occasions he got an outside edge, the slip fielder took the ball on the bounce.
Left-arm spinner Sarwate was proving to be a challenge and Rahane survived a close LBW appeal when he was on 19. The 37-year-old did get a move on thereafter. He took on the pacers frequently and ensured runs kept flowing, in the company of Siddhesh Lad.
Rahane struck two fours off medium pacer Vasudev Bareth as he grew in confidence. He was coming behind the line, using his wrists when needed and punching the ball with ease, and he reached his fifty with another boundary. In defence, Rahane was playing with soft hands.
On the other hand, Lad struck three boundaries off Bareth as the pair put on a 165-run stand to script Mumbai’s resurgence. After a stubborn 80, Lad was caught at slip by Ashutosh Singh off Ajay Mandal.
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This was another instance of Lad coming to the fore in a crisis, holding the Mumbai middle order together.
Sarfaraz, whose omission from the India A squad for the matched against South Africa A has had people talking, came out at number six and lasted a mere six balls. He went for a lofted shot over the onside to Sarwate but found the safe hands of Shashank Singh.
Brief scores: Mumbai 251 for 5 in 84 overs (Ajinkya Rahane 118, Siddhesh Lad 80; Ravi Kiran 2/22) vs Chhattisgarh
