Agarkar bowls Mumbai into a commanding position

Ajit Agarkar's five-for and an unbeaten 69 from Nishit Shetty put Mumbai in command of their Ranji Trophy Elite Group semi-final against Baroda at the Gujarat State Fertilizer Corporation Ground, Vadodara on Friday.

In the morning, Agrakar scythed through the Baroda line-up after skipper Paras Mhambrey elected to bowl.

The lanky medium-pacer tasted blood early on, when he dismissed opener Satyajit Parab for a duck in just his second over. It was all downhill for the hosts from there on, as only 17-year-old Rakesh Solanki (43) along with Connor Williams and Nayan Mongia - both of whom made 25 - managed to put up any resistance. India quick Zaheer Khan, who made 14, was the only other batsman to get into double figures in an innings that folded up with just 130 on the board. Agarkar ended up with 5/46 in his 15 overs, while Mhambrey returned figures of 2/32.

When Mumbai replied, Shetty was in fine form, making his runs off just 81 balls with the aid of 12 fours. At stumps on the first day, Mumbai then were 138/3, a lead of eight runs with seven wickets in hand. Zaheer Khan, who has already claimed two wickets, looms as the main obstacle in the way of their gaining a match-winning first-innings lead.