Harshad Khadiwale (148, 231b, 13x4, 3x6) and Ankit Bawne (100, 162b, 6x4, 3x6) put Maharashtra, electing to bat, on a strong pedestal at 379 for nine against Mumbai at the end of the first day in a semifinal match of the Buchi Babu all-India invitation cricket tournament here on Friday.
The one-hour delay due to overnight rain didn't affect Mumbai at all as it bowled out its quota of 90 overs.
Chirag Khurana was run-out going for a second run, a good throw from Gaurav Jathar at cover point catching him short.
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Soon, skipper Rohit Motwani and Prayag Bhati followed suit.
Perfect partners
But Khadiwale and Bawne found in each other a perfect ally — the two took their time to settle down.
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Slowly, they started to unwind. After tea, they cut loose, driving the spinners and pacemen alike. The run-rate touched seven an over at one time.
Khadiwale reached his century in the second over after tea, with a lofted cut through point, off part-time medium pace bowler Kaustubh Pawar. Bawne soon reached his, with a glide to third man for a single off Kshemal Waingankar.
The 206-run fourth-wicket stand between Khadiwale and Bawne (in 48.5 overs) came to an end when Bawne was caught at mid-on by Harmeet Singh, off medium pacer Aquib Shaikh. For Mumbai, Harmeet was the most successful bowler, picking up four wickets.
In the other semifinal between Hyderabad and Kerala, the first day's play was abandoned without a ball being bowled due to overnight rain — which resulted in a rain-soaked outfield. The umpires arrived at the decision after a final inspection at 4 p.m.
The match will now be played as a 50-overs-a-side contest on Saturday.
The scores: Maharashtra 379 for nine in 90 overs (Harshad Khadiwale 148, Ankit Bawne 100, Harmeet Singh four for 124) vs. Mumbai.