Mumbai, Dec 22 (PTI) Mumbai opener Jay Bista rediscovered his form with a splendid century to lay a solid foundation with his partner Vikrant Auti before Saurashtra fought back on day one of their Elite Group Ranji Trophy match on Saturday.
Bista slammed 127 off just 150 balls studded with 21 hits to the fence and also put on 174 runs with fellow-opener Auti (57) before the visiting team's bowlers, led by left arm spinner Dharmendrasinh Jadeja (3 for 89), triggered a collapse post lunch taken with the hosts at a commanding 122 for no loss.
The hosts were left reeling at 232 for five before captain Siddesh Lad, with a responsible 84 in 115 balls with 12 fours and a six, and all rounder Shivam Dube (34) stemmed the rot with an unfinished partnership of 102 for the sixth wicket that helped Mumbai end the day at a healthier-looking 334 for five.
The morning belonged to Bista who raced to his half century in just 63 balls, striking seven fours off left-arm pacer Chetan Sakariya, and also helped Mumbai record their first century stand for the first wicket of the season.
At lunch, he was on 95 after facing 110 balls and then completed his fourth first class hundred in just 116 balls.
But once Bista fell caught at extra cover off Jadeja who secured some turn and bounce off the Wankhede Stadium track, the slump followed with Mumbai losing two more wickets in 9 balls and with just 7 runs added to be 198 for three.
Jadeja added the wicket of Shreyas Iyer, who had cracked a blazing hundred in the previous game against Baroda a day after returning from New Zealand, while Auti fell to rival skipper Jaydev Unadkat.
Shubham Ranjane too departed not too much later as Mumbai lost four wickets for 37 runs in the second session before adjourning for tea at 222 for 4.
Soon after tea, Aditya Tare was dismissed by Jadeja for his third wicket at 232 before Lad, playing his now familiar anchoring role , was joined by Dube and the two repaired the rocking boat with a partnership of for the sixth wicket.
At Raipur hosts Chhattisgarh bundled out Maharashtra for 239 on the opening day of their Ranji Trophy game. For the visitors, Rahul Tripahi top scored with 102. In their first innings, Chhattisgarh were teetering at 23/3, still 216 runs behind.
At Nagpur, riding on opener Kathan Patel's 105, Gujarat scored 263 for 6 against regaining champions Vidarbha. At close of play, wicket-keeper Dhruv Raval (69 not out) was holding fort with Karan Patel (27 not out).
At Shimoga, Karnataka ended the first day at 208/9 with Siddharth K V top scoring with 69 against Railways.
Brief scores: Mumbai 334 for 5 (Jay Bista 127, Vikrant Auti 57, Siddesh Lad 84 not out, Shivam Dube 34 not out; Dharmendrasinh Jadeja 3 for 89) v Saurashtra.
At Raipur: Maharashtra 239 all out (Rahul Tripathi 102, Swapnil Gugale 35, Vishal Singh 4/59) versus Chhattisgarh 23/3 (Harpreet Singh Bhatia 13 not out, Anupam Sanklecha 3-11)
At Nagpur: Gujarat 263 for 6 (Kathan Patel 105 , Dhruv Raval 69 not out , A A Sarvate 2/57) versus Vidarbha.
At Shimoga: Karnataka 208/9 (Siddharth K V 69, Dega Nischal 52; Avinash Yadav 3/43) versus Railways.
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