Sarguru cracks unbeaten century

Earlier, Bombay Mercantile declared their innings at 540 for the loss of six wickets.

The Bank batsmen started from their overnight score of 289 for three which included an unbeaten century by Tajammul Khan and a fine 99 by Mileen Vasudeo.

Police bowlers did not have an early success in the morning as the bankmen strolled slowly. But yesterday’s century maker Tajammul could add only 23 runs before getting out.

Sarguru’s lively knock, as he dispatched 23 of his strikes to the boundary, was the day’s highlight. In the beginning of his knock, he was concentrating more on collecting singles and twos. After he settled down, he exploited the conducive battingconditions and began hitting the Police bowlers over the top.

Sarguru shared a 122-run partnership for the sixth wicket with Sameer Bandekar.

At tea, Bombay Mercantile were 445 for five. In the last one and half hours, the Bank batsman added another 95 runs. Most of the runs came through Bandekar’s bat as hit four boundaries and a mighty six. He lost his wicket when he tried to hit the Police spinner Jeevan Bhonsale over the boundary.Police tried as many as eight bowlers in the innings in their vain attempt to restrict the Bank batsman who were on the rampage.

Medium pacer Sanjay Kadam was the most successful bowler for Police, with three wickets for 140 runs. Bhonsle scalped two for 64.

The two Police batsmen experienced some anxious moments towards the end. In one of the Aslam’s over, the Bank wicket-keeper dropped two catches whereas another edge fell short of the first slip fielder.

Brief scores: Bombay Mercantile 540-6 declared in 183 overs (Aslam Sarguru 162 n.o., Tajammul Khan 138,Mileen Vasudeo 99, Sameer Bandekar 54; Sanjay Kadam 3-140) vs Bombay Police B 15-1.