Jaffer catches eye of selectors with fine 180

Kuruvilla, however, overcame a horrendous first spell (2-0-30-0) to dent the Gujarat innings in his second (6-2-12-2).

Propelled by the Kotecha blast, Gujarat excorcised their first innings catastrophe while ending the second day on a satisfactory note. Skipper Mukund Parmar (batting 36: 44m, 6×4) persisted with the boundary binge slamming three in succession off medium-pacer Santosh Saxena and two off left-arm spinner Rajesh Pawar inthe last over of the day.

Earlier, opener Wasim Jaffer proclaimed his credentials with distinction even as the other big guns failed to boom when Mumbai resumed the day on 145-1. The 20-year-old Jaffer, who was on 82 yesterday, amassed 180 runs (322b, 418m, 23×4) as Mumbai surged to a 283-run lead before Sachin Tendulkar declared the innings. Though a misjudged hook denied Jaffer a deserving double hundred, his efforts had been acknowledged by the National selectors, who included him in the India A team for the first `Test’ against the visiting West Indies A.

Jaffer, who notched his third hundred (187b, 2556m, 16×4) in the national championship with an elegant on-drive, was involved in two fruitful associations today. With Tendulkar (35: 40b, 64m, 4×4, 1×6), he added 67 runs in 14.3 overs for the third wicket and then featured in a 91-run alliance with Amol Muzumdar.

Muzumdar, the other Mumbai player to be selected in the India A team, shed his defensive tag while compiling a quick 52 not out (77b,102m, 5×4).

Off-spinner Bhavin Mehta, despite being the most expensive of the Gujarat bowlers, captivated with his variations that saw him claim Tendulkar. He would have added Vinod Kambli (24: 26b, 38m, 3×6) to the list too, but for a bad stumping fumble by wicket-keeper Pathik Patel. Kambli was yet to open his account then.

Though it was quite a heart-warming day for Gujarat, they are still 133 runs away from making Mumbai bat again.

Scoreboard

Gujarat (1st innings): 90

Mumbai (1st innings) (overnight 145-1):Wasim Jaffer c Damani b Lalit Patel 180, Sameer Dighe run out 56, Jatin Paranjpe c Pathik Patel b Bhavik Patel 10, Sachin Tendulkar c Bhavik Patel b Mehta 35, Vinod Kambli c Mehta b Hiren Patel 24, Amol Muzumdar not out 52, Rajesh Sutar not out 2; Extras (b5, lb2, nb2, w5) 14. Total (for 5 wkts declared in 108 overs, 409 mins) 373

Fall of wickets:1-144, 2-163, 3-230, 4-273, 5-364

Bowling: Bhavik Patel 24-9-70-1 (nb2, w4), Lalit Patel 17-2-61-1, Varsani 1-0-5-0 (w1), Hiren Patel33-6-83-1, Mehta 29-3-135-1, Parmar 4-0-12-0

Gujarat (2nd innings): Amrish Kotecha c Dighe b Mhambrey 41, Nilesh Modi b Kuruvilla 34, Niraj Patel c Tendulkar b Kuruvilla 12, Mukund Parmar batting 36, Tejas Varsani batting 8; Extras (b4, lb1, w1, nb3) 9.

Total (for three wickets in 33 overs 160 mins) 140

Fall of wickets:1-48, 2-83, 3-96

Bowling: Kuruvilla 8-2-42-2 (w1), Mhambrey 8-3-27-1 (nb2), Saxena 8-2-34-0, Pawar 8-1-26-0 (nb1), Sutar 1-0-6-0

Nothing was pre-planned: Kotecha

Amrish Kotecha, who carved a niche for himself in the record books with a rare feat at the Wankhede Stadium this afternoon wasn’t all that cheerful despite the heroics. “I would have been more happier if would have went onto make a big knock. Moreso, when I had got into into that sort of touch,” he reasoned.

Judging by the manner by which he went after the bowling, it seemed Gujarat had a plan in store. Kotecha, however, dismissed it saying: “Nothing was pre-planned. I just played my natrual game.”

For WasimJaffer, who shared the second day’s honours of the Ranji Trophy match, it was a case of re-establishing himself after a lakclusture display last season. “I wanted to prove myself to be back in the reckoning,” he remarked later in the day. Expressing his displeasure at missing a double hundred, Jaffer pointed his first-class high of 314 not out against Saruashtra (Nov 1996) as his best.

“The situation then was more demanding when I had to shoulder more responsiblity,” he said. Saurashtra had amassed 595-4 in the first innings and Mumbai gave a fiting reply (647-4) with Jaffer and Sulakshan Kulkarni (239) setting a record partnership of 459 runs for the opening wicket.