Mumbai dismissed prolific young Punjab opener Jiwanjot Singh for 42 runs. But Mandeep Singh stepped up to take charge with a stroke-filled 102 not out (168b, 14x4, 1x6) on the first day of Ranji Trophy Group A league tie.
Punjab was 288 for four at stumps at the Wankhede stadium after the host won the toss and put the visitor in to bat.
Punjab got off to a steady start. Jiwanjot and Karan Goel negotiated 10 overs for 32 for no loss before Mumbai captain Ajit Agarkar got Goel to edge to Ajinkya Rahane’s hands at second slip.
The home team’s big moment came at 109 for two in the 38th over, when Jiwanjot chased a ball from Dhaval Kulkarni outside the off stump for Hiken at first slip to take the catch.
The young Punjab opener offered two chances before his dismissal at 42 (121b, 6x4).
Ravi Inder Singh got going thereafter and Mandeep chugged along and both batsmen crossed the half-century mark in a third wicket stand.
Agarkar strikes
Agarkar, known for breaking partnerships, got R.I. Singh (76 off 150balls) to lunge at a delivery for wicket-keeper Tare to pouch the catch.
The Mumbai captain and new ball partner Dhaval Kulkarni claimed two wickets each, and with Punjab captain Harbhajan Singh awaiting his turn to bat, an engrossing second day’s play is anticipated.
Mumbai will miss Wasim Jaffer’s solid batting at the top, after the former India opener opted out due to personal reasons.
Rahane is available to bat at number three. Swing bowler Balwinder Singh Sandhu Jr. came in place of Avishkar Salvi, as the home team went in with five bowlers and Nayar as backup.
Slow bowlers Ramesh Powar and Ankit Chavan went wicketless on the first day.
The scores:
Punjab — 1st innings: Jiwanjot Singh c Shah b Kulkarni 42, K. Goel c Rahane b Agarkar 25, R. Inder Singh c Tare b Agarkar 76, Mandeep Singh (batting) 102, U. Kaul c Shah b Kulkarni 19, Extras (b-5, lb-7, nb-10, w-2): 24; Total (for four wkts. in 89.4 overs): 288.
Fall of wickets: 1-57, 2-109, 3-237, 4-288.
Mumbai bowling: Agarkar 17-3-54-2, Kulkarni 19.4-5-61-2, Sandhu Jr. 12-2-31-0, Nayar 12-4-34-0, Powar 9-0-41-0, Chavan 16-5-51-0, Pawar 4-1-4-0.
