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Nayar, Kukreja score centuries

G. Viswanath

Mumbai finishes day at 385 for eight

Rajkot: If there was a prize for a first day performer, Mumbai’s Abhishek Nayar would have won hands down in the 45th Irani Cup at the Madhavrao Scindia Stadium here on Saturday. Opener Sahil Kukreja (110, 17x4) was the bulwark for a little over five and a half hours while his partner, Ajinkya Rahane (52), showed immense potential.

But Nayar was indisputably Mumbai’s hero. The left-hander collared the Rest of India bowling for two hours and ten minutes as he scored a terrific 118 (20x4, 1x6) to lead Mumbai to 385 for eight at close.

Nayar, one of the seven Mumbai debutants in this one-match competition, thrashed left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha and wrist spinner, Amit Mishra, before bringing his powerful lower grip into play against the seamers.

Ojha’s delight

In a little over three hours Mumbai raced from an anxious 165 for four to 336 for five. Nayar used the crease to hammer the slow bowlers. Ojha’s delight was understandable when Ishant Sharma held a catch in the deep.

Earlier the Rest’s seam attack comprising Munaf Patel, Ranadeb Bose and Sharma was put to a stern test by the technical proficiency and patient work of the young openers, Kukreja and Rahane. Patel was unlucky not to find Kukreja’s edge immediately after play started.

He also beat Rahane in his sixth over, but looked pedestrian in the near 16 overs he sent down in four spells.

Mumbai’s tactic of holding back specialist Wasim Jaffer gave credence to the belief that its middle order was vulnerable.

Sharma was first advised to watch his follow-through and then warned. However, the Delhi seamer, who was the best of the lot, was rewarded with two wickets including that of Prashant Naik, who was beaten by a ball that cut back.

Persevering Bose

The persevering Bose provided the breakthrough, trapping Rahane who shuffled across, and the prized scalp of Jaffer, who flashed at a delivery that was gaining height. The Bengal seamer got rid of Ajit Agarkar, with Suresh Raina at gully taking a blinder.

Rest fought back after a frustrating first two hours and made headway in the last hour. But in between the imperturbable Kukreja and the flair and dash of Nayar inflicted heavy damage.

The scores: Mumbai — 1st innings: S. Kukreja (run out) 110, A. Rahane lbw b Bose 52, W. Jaffer c Kaif b Bose 8, A. Muzumdar lbw b Ojha 8, P. Naik lbw b Sharma 12, A. Nayar c Sharma b Ojha 118, R. Powar (batting) 28, A. Agarkar c Raina b Bose 4, O. Gurav c P. Patel b Sharma 0, I. Abdulla (batting) 16; Extras: (b-2, lb-8, nb-16, w-3) 29; Total (for 8 wkts, 86 overs) 385.

Fall of wickets: 1-91, 2-109, 3-150, 4-165, 5-336, 6-338, 7-342, 8-359.

Rest of India bowling: Patel 15.5-0-71-0, Bose 22.1-4-88-3, Sharma 17-4-58-2, Ojha 18-0-96-2, Mishra 8-0-42-0, Badrinath 5-0-20-0.

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