Jaffer, Rahane put up record 342-run partnership

West Zone8217;s only hope now is spinners. They need an outright victory to reach...

West Zone8217;s only hope now is spinners. They need an outright victory to reach the final of the Duleep Trophy, and the pitch is already showing promise for the tweakers. So on the final day tomorrow at Motibaug, the onus will fall on left-arm spinner Rakesh Dhruve and offies Romesh Powar and Yusuf Pathan to take the remaining nine England Lions wickets with the English side finishing the third day at 14 for 1. They conceded a first innings lead of 139 runs. With the touring side needing just a draw to make the final, they would like to bat out the final day.

But if West are now in a position of eking out an unlikely victory, the credit must go to two Mumbaikars, Ajinkya Rahane 172 and Wasim Jaffer 151 as both the overnight batsmen went on to score big hundreds. The duo put on a record partnership of 342 runs for the second wicket, breaking the previous best of 288 runs set by Aunshuman Gaekwad and Sanjay Manjrekar against North Zone in 1987-88. 8220;I got to know about it. It feels great to be a part of such a record, especially having achieved it with another Mumbaikar,8221; said Rahane after the match.

It was the 19-year-old Rahane, who, resuming the day at 93, reached the three-figure mark first by steering Monty Panesar to the third man boundary. A little later, Jaffer reached there too by guiding Liam Plunkett off the toes for a couple.

Rahane also recorded his first 150 in first-class cricket by picking up two against Graham Onions. The batsman finally fell to Steve Kirby, who trapped him in front of the wickets. His innings had 26 hits to the fence. Jaffer also became a victim of the same bowler soon after completing his 150. He edged a Kirby delivery to the wicket-keeper James Foster. Jaffer fashioned his knock with 22 boundaries and a six over long-on off leggie Adil Rashid.

Pathan was moved up the order to give impetus to the innings and the Baroda player started going after the bowlers straightaway, hitting Kirby for two consecutive boundaries. In the next over, he dispatched Onions for two consecutive fours. But his stay in the middle was brief. After five boundaries and a 21-ball 29, he departed with Plunkett taking a fine catch in his follow through.

West8217;s skipper Parthiv Patel 59 also continued his run glut this season. He played some flashy strokes on the square of the wicket and a few straight down the ground, including a six off Panesar over the bowler8217;s head. The southpaw was bowled by the same bowler as he missed the line trying to guide the spinner to third man.

With Rashid and Panesar taking three wickets each, the hopes have risen in the West camp for a possible victory. 8220;It8217;s spinning now. So their batsmen will definitely face a problem tomorrow,8221; said Parthiv.

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8220;We would like to get into a situation from where we don8217;t lose,8221; said Lions8217; bowling coach David Parsons.

Brief scores: England Lions 355 038; 14/1Michael Carberry not out 5. Ed Joyce not out 5 vs West Zone 494 Ajinkya Rahane 172, Wasim Jaffer 151, Parthiv Patel 59; Adil Rashid 3/88.

Chopra, Manhas score double tons

8226;Meanwhile, at the Madhavrao Scindia ground in Rajkot, North Zone8217;s Aakash Chopra and Mitthun Manhas frustrated the East bowlers with both the batsmen recording double hundreds. The duo remained unbeaten on an identical score of 205 as North declared their second innings at 459 for 2. At stumps East Zone were 28 for 1 with Rajat Bhatia taking the only wicket of the day.

Earlier, resuming at 109 for 2, Chopra and Manhas played fluently to put the opponents in leather hunt. Chopra hit 21 fours while Manhas, the more attacking of the two, hit 27 fours and two sixes.

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Brief scores: North Zone 360 038; 459 for 2 Aakash Chopra not out 205, Mitthun Manhas not out 205; Debashis Mohanty 1/41, Ranadeb Bose 1/57 vs East Zone 143 038; 28/1 SS Das not out 18; Rajat Bhatia 1/2.