Ranji Trophy | Rahane, Lad prop up Mumbai on opening day

As Ajinkya Rahane introduced up his first century of the season with a single, the celebrations have been muted. Rahane simply raised his bat in direction of the dugout and gave a thumbs as much as his teammates.

Throughout his 315-minute keep on the crease, not for as soon as did Rahane look jittery. His calm and composed manner not solely helped him rating his forty second First Class ton, but in addition guided Mumbai out of the woods in opposition to Chhattisgarh on the opening day of their Ranji Trophy Group-D sport on Saturday.

With Rahane (118, 237b, 15×4) again among the many runs after a forgettable outing in opposition to Jammu and Kashmir within the season-opener and including 165 for the fourth wicket with Siddhesh Lad (80, 146b, 13×4), Mumbai ended the day at 251 for 5 after reeling at 38 for 3 at one stage.

The begin was removed from good for the host on the MCA-BKC floor as openers Musheer Khan and Angkrish Raghuvanshi, who got here in for Ayush Mhatre, did not get going after Chhattisgarh opted to bowl. Making the a lot of the overcast situations, quick bowler Ravi Kiran troubled the Mumbai top-order.

Musheer threw away his wicket within the first over in opposition to spin. Looking to brush left-arm tweaker Aditya Sarwate, he solely managed a top-edge, which was pouched by the bowler.

Raghuvanshi was trapped in entrance by Ravi Kiran with a fuller supply. He additionally accounted for No. 4 Himanshu Singh in an equivalent style.

But because the pitch eased out, Rahane and Lad stood agency and performed fairly a bit by way of the sq. of the wicket. Coming on the again of a ton, Lad took time earlier than accelerating whereas Rahane dealt in singles as Mumbai added 97 runs within the second session.

Two wickets fell shortly within the final session as Lad missed out on a ton, providing a regulation catch at slips off Ajay Mandal and Sarfaraz Khan perished in six balls for only one. But Rahane and Shams Mulani regrouped, earlier than the previous retired harm as a result of cramps.

The scores: Mumbai — 1st innings: Angkrish Raghuvanshi lbw b Ravi Kiran 9, Musheer Khan c & b Sarwate 12, Ajinkya Rahane (retd. harm) 118, Himanshu Singh lbw b Ravi Kiran 0, Siddhesh Lad c Ashutosh b Mandal 80, Sarfaraz Khan c Shashank b Sarvate 1, Shams Mulani (batting) 25, Akash Anand (batting) 0; Extras: (b-4, lb-1, nb-1): 6; Total (for 5 wkts. in 84 overs): 251.

Fall of wickets: 1-18, 2-36, 3-38, 4-203, 5-204,

Chhattisgarh bowling: Ravi Kiran 12-4-22-2, Majumdar 13-1-42-0, Sarwate 25-6-65-2, Bareth 6-0-38-0, Mandal 23-5-55-1, Shashank 4-0-18-0, Ashutosh 1-0-6-0.

Toss: Chhattisgarh.