Ranji Trophy: Mumbai take centre stage

Kolkata : Mumbai took the centre stage on Day 2 hitting a mammoth 621/8 wicket declared with an unbeaten double century knock from stylist Rohit Sharma (200 not out) and then reducing Bengal to 28/1 in the Ranji Trophy Elite Group A match at the Eden Gardens here on Thursday.

The big total left Bengal to a tremendous task as they were still trailed by 593 runs with nine wickets in hand at the end of second day of the four-day game.

The visitors resuming their overnight score at 287/4, decimated Bengal bowling with ruthless batting from Rohit Sharma, who slammed his double ton with 23 4s and three over the fence in 256 deliveries.

Bengal looked pretty happy when Arindam Das held overnight not out batsman Abhishekh Nayar (19) off Ranadeb Bose early with Mumbai total 304/5. He added only six runs.

Following Nayar, Ajit Agarkar (4) was quick to go after wicketkeeper Wriddiman Saha took him from Asoke Dinda delivery, as Mumbai reeled under 313/6 under cool weather conditions in the wee hours.

But the jubilation of the Bengal camp with thoughts to bowl out the visitors under 400 went out gradually by the devastating batting from Rohit Sharma.

Partnering with Iqbal Abdulla (81), who fell to Sourashish Lahiri, Rohit Sharma made a mockery of Bengal’s bowling as captain Manoj
Tiwari used all his resources but failed to break the duo, who together made 144 runs in 7th wickets.

Tail enders Ramesh Pawar (38) and Dhawal Kulkarni (not out 37) also contributed much to Mumbai total as they poised for first
innings lead.

Sensing the four-day game almost in their grip to lead at least in the first innings, Mumbai captain Wasim Jaffer declared with two remaining to bat and got success early when right armed bowler Aavishkar Salvi got opener Arindam Das on eight.

Das, in his attempt to Salvi’s outgoing ball, sneaked behind the wicket and Omkar Gurav did what he needed to do.

Following of the scoreboard of Mumbai first innings against Bengal.

Mumbai: (Overnight score 287/4).

Rohit Sharma not out 200
A Nayar c Arindam Das b Bose 19
A Agarkar c Saha b Dinda 4
Iqbal Abdulla b Lahiri 81
R Powar c Tiwary b Singh 38
D Kulkarni not out 37
Extras (b 1, lb 4, w 3, nb 2) 10

Total
(8 wickets dec; 163 overs) 621

Fall of wickets: 1-21, 2-84, 3-236, 4-237,5-304, 6-313,7-457,
8-506.

Bowling O M R W
R Bose 26 6 81 1
A Dinda 33 3 130 1
LR Shukla 25 4 77 0
S Singh 35 5 132 1
S Lahiri 29 1 128 2
M Tiwary 15 0 68 2

Bengal 1st innings
Arindam Das c Gurav b Salvi 8
S Goswami not out 15
R Banerjee not out 2
Extras (b 1, nb 2) 3
Total (1 wicket; 15 overs) 28

Fall of wickets1-23.

Bowling O M R W
A Agarkar 5 1 8 0
D Kulkarni 5 2 14 0
A Salvi 3 2 2 1
R Powar 2 0 3 0