Batsmen provide Mumbai solid foundation

Paranjpe and Sutar have raised 115 runs for the unbeaten fifth wicket. They came together when Maharashtra had threatened to take control. With their enterprising strokeplay — Paranjpe in particular — they not only stepped up the scoring rate, but also wrested the initiative.

Earlier, Pagnis and Amol Muzumdar, in the role of an opener, gave Mumbai a good start with their 97-run stand. Pagnis, who flew in last evening after playing in the Cooch Behar Trophy against Gujarat at Ahmedabad, survived an lbw scare in the fourth delivery of the match off medium-pacer Iqbal Siddiqui.

The teenager, however, overcame the close call and settled down to register his highest score in first class cricket. The more experienced Muzumdar was uncomfortable and took 20 balls before opening his account. But he hung on to see off the first session.

Both fell immediately after the lunch break. While Pagnis departed edging Siddiqui to wicket-keeper Sanjay Kondhalkar, Muzumdar was lured out by left-arm spinner Indrajeet Kamthekar for Kondhalkar to effect a smart stumping.

After Vinod Kambli arrived, the run-flow increased. He top-edged and flashed at a couple of deliveries in his quick-fire 39 (45b, 54m, 7×4). The best shots he played were the three boundaries that he struck in a Siddiqui over. A cracking short-arm pull and a fierce cut to the point region were followed by a flowing drive past mid-off.

His wild ways brought his downfall — chopping one onto the stumps. After Manjrekar (29) also departed, 25-year-old Paranjpe and Sutar took charge.Paranjpe showed the way by smashing Kamthekar for two successive sixes.Thirty-year-old Sutar, known for his lusty hitting, joined the fun and is one short of his fifty in his maiden Ranji appearance.

Sugwekar tried as many as seven bowlers including himself but to no avail. To add to his woes, Surendra Bhave in slips reacted late when Sutar slashed at Kamthekar. The batsman then was on 47.

SCOREBOARD

Mumbai (1st innings): Amit Pagnis c Kondhalkar b Siddiqui 56, Amol Muzumdar st Kondhalkar b Kamthekar 31, Vinod Kambli b Inamdar 39, Sanjay Manjrekar st Kondhalkar b Kamthekar 29, Jatin Paranjpe batting 86, Rajesh Sutar batting 49; Extras: (b3, lb7, nb3, w1) 14.

Total: (for four wickets in 90 overs; 389 minutes) 304

Fall of wickets: 1-97 (Pagnis), 2-99 (Muzumdar), 3-149 (Kambli), 4-189 (Manjrekar)

Bowling: Siddiqui 14-2-58-1 (2nb, 1w); Inamdar 14-4-37-1; Kulkarni 8-0-27-0 (1nb); Kamthekar 27-3-91-2; Sane 17-2-53-0; Sugwekar 7-3-16-0, Bhave 3-1-12-0.