Saving Mumbai from a point where Saurashtra saw them reduce to 44 for three, Ajinkya Rahane (108 not out, 250b, 14×4, 2×6) and Sarfaraz Khan A scintillating century (121 not out, 219b, 15×4, 2×6), adding 219 to their fourth-wicket alliance from 448 balls, took the 41-time champions to 263 for three by the stumps. If the first hour was won by Saurashtra, in which their captain Jaydev Unadkati Mumbai captain took Prithvi ShawBrilliant innings from Skull, Rahane and Sarfaraz ensured that the day belongs to Mumbai.
Giving his best shot to ensure another lifeline by the selectors for the two-Test series at home against Sri Lanka, Rahane – under tremendous pressure to retain his place in the team – overcome his prolonged poor form. To perform well. His 36th first-class century – probably a career-saving knock. This was his first century in any format since his 112 in the match-winning 112 against Australia in the Boxing Day Test in December 2020.
The 33-year-old India Test batsman, showcasing his class and experience, found the ideal ally in Sarfaraz. Both did well against a decent Saurashtra attack with good carries to score their centuries in pressure conditions on one wicket, including Jaydev Unadkat, the highest wicket-taker of the previous Ranji Trophy season, along with fellow left-arm seamer Chetan Sakaria. and left-arm spinners. Dharmendra Singh Jadeja was dismissed after scoring 100 runs in 24 overs.
Rahane weathered the opening storm, making a brisk start from Unadkat. He was so confident in the middle that he didn’t mind hitting 99 off Jadeja’s delivery for a six.
Talented Sarfaraz – who was picked for India A for the tour of South Africa last year – looked to have taken his form straight from the last Ranji Trophy season in 2019-20, in which he scored 928 runs in just six matches Were. Incredible average of 154.66, including a triple century against Uttar Pradesh. Despite the long break since then, he continues to score runs at will in the Ranji Trophy.
Deciding to give up his usual attacking game, Sarfaraz initially chose to hold on to one end, scoring only nine runs in 60 balls till lunch. He only changed gears after lunch, hitting left-arm spinner Dharmendra Singh Jadeja for two consecutive fours and a six. Sarfaraz was batting in the 70s when Rahane reached his century, but by the end of the day he had outgrown his senior batting partner.
Electing to bat after winning the toss, the Mumbai team was in trouble in the morning and scored 44 for three for the loss of the wickets of captain Prithvi Shaw (1), Drew Gomel (8) and Sachin Yadav (19). In the third over, Shaw fell first off the delivery of left-arm pacer Jaydev Unadkat. Gomel and Yadav were dismissed by Sakariya and Chirag Yadav.
Earlier, Mumbai surprisingly dropped opener Yashasvi Jaiswal and all-rounder Shivam Dubey, preferring to play Gomel and Yadav instead.
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