Abhinav Mukund and Shikhar Dhawan achieved rare distinctions as the Irani Cup took a predictable course here on Tuesday, the fourth day of the contest. Dhawan became the first to hit a century in each innings and Mukund the first to make it three-in-a-row in consecutive Irani matches.
The two left-handers complemented each other with an authoritative performance at the Sawai Man Singh Stadium as Rajasthan was pulverised by the clinical Rest of India.
Rajasthan resumed at 307 for six but folded up conceding a first innings lead of 263 runs. Rest of India predictably chose to bat, declared at 354 for two, and set the home team a target of 618 runs. At close, Rajasthan was 28 for no loss.
Dhawan and Mukund feasted on the Rajasthan bowling in an opening stand of 310 runs. Dhawan slammed 155 in style following a dazzling 177 in the first innings. He was hardly hustled and enjoyed his stay in the middle, slamming 22 fours and three sixes in his 126-ball knock.
Mukund's 154 came off 159 balls with 19 fours and two sixes. “I've always aimed at playing my natural game,” said Mukund. He did precisely that.
For Mukund, it was an unforgettable moment when he reached the coveted mark. Mukund's four appearances in Irani Cup preceding this match were worth 47, 126, 161 and 63.
G.R. Viswanath and Dilip Vengsarkar hit four Irani Cup centuries each and Sunil Gavaskar three but never in succession.
In the morning, Pragyan Ojha hastened Rajasthan's collapse. The Hyderabad left-arm spinner was rewarded with a five-wicket haul for his perseverance.
A cameo by Madhur Khatri, 31 with six fours, lit up the proceedings but it was a matter of time before Rajasthan folded up and conceded the stage for Rest to extend its domination.
The scores: Rest of India — 1st innings: 663.
Rajasthan — 1st innings: A. Chopra c Yadav b Ojha 20, V. Saxena c Patel b Yadav 11, H. Kanitkar c Patel b Yadav 14, R. Bisht c Patel b Ojha 93, R.R. Parida c Pandey b Vinay Kumar 85, A. Menaria c Mukund b Ojha 79, R. Jhalani b Vinay Kumar 1, D. Chahar lbw b Ojha 17, M. Khatri lbw b Vinay Kumar 31, S. Mathur c Dhawan b Ojha 21, A. Choudhary (not out) 0; Extras (b-3, lb-13, nb-6, w-6): 28, Total (in 134.3 overs): 400.
Fall of wickets: 1-25, 2-44, 3-53, 4-211, 5-278, 6-289, 7-341, 8-348, 9-398.
Rest of India bowling: Vinay Kumar 33-6-74-3, Yadav 26-5-81-2, Aaron 26-4-73-0, Ojha 27.3-8-86-5, Sharma 21-2-65-0, Mukund 1-0-5-0.
Rest of India — 2nd innings: A. Mukund c Choudhary b Menaria 154, S. Dhawan c Khatri b Mathur 155, A. Rahane (not out) 13, M. Pandey (not out) 19; Extras (b-5, lb-2, nb-2, w-4): 13; Total (for two wkts decl in 54 overs): 354.
Fall of wickets: 1-310, 2-328.
Rajasthan bowling: Chahar 11-0-67-0, Choudhary 9-1-42-0, Mathur 11-0-60-1, Khatri 12-0-98-0, Bisht 7-0-65-0, Menaria 5-0-15-1.
Rajasthan — 2nd innings: A. Chopra (batting) 19, V. Saxena (batting) 3; Extras (b-4, lb-1, w-1): 6; Total (for no loss in seven overs): 28.
Rest of India bowling: Vinay Kumar 4-1-6-0, Aaron 2-1-5-0, Ojha 1-0-12-0.
