Agarkar stands up to be counted

Funny how responsibility sometimes brings out the best in some. Just a look at Ajit Agarkar on Thursday confirmed that. As he essayed differ...

Funny how responsibility sometimes brings out the best in some. Just a look at Ajit Agarkar on Thursday confirmed that. As he essayed different roles at the Wankhede Stadium, first a fighting knock with the bat and then leading an inexperienced pace attack, Agarkar showed that he is indeed ready for a senior post in the Mumbai side.

Despite being down with flu for the past couple of days, the fact that there was a job to be done kept Agarkar going. 8216;8216;It was perhaps because of the Mumbai weather. But I was ready for a challenge8217;8217;, explained Agarkar late in the day as he cooled himself down.

He had shocked MP in his four penetrative spells, at one stage leaving them reeling at 13 for 4, before Devendra Bundela bailed the visitors out. Bundela was distinctly lucky to survive a few close calls thanks to some inept umpiring as MP ended at 99 for 5 an overall lead of 121.

Earlier on, though, at 171 for 5, with Mumbai still with a chance to snatch a lead, Agarkar stood firm against a confident Madhya Pradesh.

Skipper Vinod Kambli left early, leaving the hard task to be completed by Agarkar. But the Test discard paceman was more than ready as he etched a fluent 84, rallying the tail around him.

Finally, though, as wickets fell steadily at the other end, he found the ground slipping from beneath his feet and was the last man to fall at 233. 8216;8216;We would have loved a first innings lead8217;8217;, rued Agarkar.

For a brief moment there was celebration in the MP camp as they claimed a 22-run lead. A rare occurence; indeed, only the second time in 10 matches between the two teams. The other occasion being back in 1947-48.

Story continues below this ad

Soon, though, it was back to Agarkar as he rocked the MP innings, in a charged opening spell, the paceman 2-18 sent shockwaves through the visitors.

New boy Santosh Shinde 2-40 too joined in the fun as MP struggled at 13 for 4, with the top four batsmen knocked over for 0.

Agarkar had done his job not once but twice during the day, but MP still got away towards the end of the day thanks to a fifth wicket 73-run stand between Bundela and Nikhil Patwardhan.