Mumbai 297 amp; 372-4 decl

The Muzumdar-Kambli combo packed 229 runs in 49.3 overs during their fourth-wicket association which was largely instrumental in Mumbai adding 319 runs off 72 overs today after resuming the day on 53-1. Interestingly, it was Muzumdar who had a better strike-rate than Kambli, who had a sedate start compiling his first 50 runs in 90 balls.

The 25-year-old Muzumdar, of late, has shown a drastic improvement in accumulating runs at a faster pace which was amply evident while he compiled his 10th Ranji hundred 150b, 220m, 10215;4, 2215;6. His first fifty runs came off 79 balls.

Kambli, who turns 28 next fortnight, acted on coach Ashok Mankad8217;s advice of being patient. 8220;I was terribly disappointed after getting out for 12 in the first innings. Kaka8217;s Mankad advised me not to get upset about it and just be patient.8221; Patience paid for the left-hander as he crafted his 18th century 155b, 196m, 15215;4 in the National championship coming close on the heels of the 116 he notched against Gujarat last week.

Both Muzumdar and Kambli, who are eyeing berths in the National squad, were more intent in let their bats do the talking. 8220;I8217;ve to really work hard and score as many runs as possible in the domestic circuit to stake a claim,8221; opined Kambli, whose batting average in the championship 80.00 is the second best only to Vijay Merchant8217;s 98.00.

Off-spinner Niraj Odedara was the scourge of the two batsmen as they picked 95 runs from his 24 overs.

Earlier, Mumbai had begun in right earnest with opener Amit Pagnis 50: 135b, 198m, 6215;4 and Amol Rane 30. However, both failed to captilise on the starts and succumbed to Odedara8217;s guiles. In stepped Kambli and with schoolmate Muzumdar took the Saurashtra attack to the cleaners.

Explaining the delay in declaring the innings which came 39 minutes after the tea interval, Muzumdar said: 8220;The idea was to maintain the effect of the new ball for tomorrow morning when the conditions would be more suitable for the medium-pacers.8221; Add to it the bounce on the track which has been consistent on all the three days, the Saurashtra batsmen face a difficult proposition on Thursday.

Scoreboard

Mumbai 1st innings 297
Saurashtra 1st innings: 183

Mumbai 2nd innings; overnight 53-1:
Wasim Jaffer lbw b Garsondia 11 52b, 81m, 2215;4
Amit Pagnis c Kotak b Odedara 50 135b, 198m, 6215;4
Amol Rane b Odedara 30 48b, 68m, 5215;4
Amol Muzumdar c Parmar b Odedara 131 169b, 254m, 15215;4, 2215;6
Vinod Kambli not out 125 177b, 233m, 16215;4, 1215;6
Sairaj Bahutule not out 11 24b, 24m, 2215;4

Extras: 9lb, 1w, 4nb 14
Total: declared for four wickets off 100 overs; 432 mins 372
Fall of wickets: 1-28 Jaffer, 2-76 Rane, 3-114 Pagnis, 4-343 Muzumdar
Bowling: Garsondia 17-6-49-1 1nb, 13-3-54-0 1nb, 1w, Odedara 38-8-130-3 2nb, Chudasama 19-4-86-0, Bambhania 13-4-44-0
Saurashtra 2nd innings: Vasanth Kumar batting 16 52b, 74m, 3215;4
Bimal Jadeja batting 11 45b, 74m, 1215;4
Extras: 4b, 1lb, 1nb 6
Total: for no loss in 16 overs; 74 mins 33
Bowling: Mhambrey 3-1-10-0, Saxena 4-1-8-0, Kulkarni 5-4-3-0, Kuruvilla 4-1-7-0.