In the first ever clash between Mumbai and Vidarbha in the domestic Ranji Trophy tournament Wasim Jaffer had kept Mumbai afloat with a skillfully compiled 133 not-out, after the visitors struck early to push the hosts on the back foot. Even as he kept losing partners at the other end as the day progressed, the experienced campaigner held the innings together and helped Mumbai to 254 for eight at the end of day’s play.
Earlier, after Vidarbha opted to field first, Sandeep Singh dealt early blows to leave the hosts reeling in the first session with figures of 10-5-18-3.
Kaustabh Pawar had perished while hitting Sandeep to Akshay Wakhare at point in the third over with just four runs on the board and Ajinkya Rahane edged the pacer to Hemang Badani at first slip to depart for one. After his first spell (5-3-6-2) yielding good results, Sandeep changed ends before striking again.
Siddhesh Lad, who had plodded his way to 20, was the bowler’s third scalp. The No.4 batsman nudged the ball to Faiz Fazal at second slip, leaving the home team on 39 for three. The pacers had dominated the first session and kept the flow of runs in check. Abhishek Nayar, who had joined Jaffer after the departure of Lad, helped in stabilising the innings; the pair took Mumbai to 89 at lunch without losing any further wickets.
However, Nayar was sent back early in the second session. While attempting to sweep the off-spinner Wakhare, the left-handed batsman was bowled for 27, ending the partnership for 64. Meanwhile, Jaffer reached his half-century. Along with Aditya Tare at the other end, he looked to take the innings further. But while on 17, Tare was trapped leg-before by Wakhare.
Halfway through the day and with half the team back in the dressing room, Mumbai were left struggling when Suryakumar Yadav took guard. However, he too didn’t last long and returned to the dressing room after offering a simple catch to Umesh Yadav at mid-off off Ravi Jangid. With team on 161, Shardul Thakur made his way out to the middle to join Jaffer. Having lost three more wickets in the second session, Mumbai were 164 for six when tea was called with Jaffer unbeaten on 80.
The senior batsman, who already holds the record for the most number of centuries in Ranji Trophy, scored his 34th ton of the premier tournament – his 50th first-class hundred – with a single behind square-leg off Wakhare during the last session of the day.
He had found support from Thakur and their partnership was worth 58 when a catch at short extra cover by substitute Urvesh Patel saw the back of the lower-order batsman for 26. Mumbai’s stand-in captain, Zaheer Khan, was the next to be dismissed; castled by Jangid after contributing just 10 runs to the total.
Vishal Dabholkar then joined Jaffer in the middle to help build on the score and was yet to open his account when play ended.
