Batsmen put Maharashtra in command on opening day

Riding on the good form of Hrishikesh Kanitkar, Abijit Kale and Kaushik Aphale, Maharashtra piled up 320 runs while losing four wickets at the close of play on the opening day of their last league match of the West Zone Ranji trophy match against Mumbai at the Shivaji Stadium in Kolhapur on Friday.

Opting to bat, Maharashtra lost veteran opener Surinder Bhave (0) caught behind off Sameer Dighe off Swapnil Hazare in the sixth over of the innings. But this ushered in the Maharashtra skipper Kanitkar (61) to join the other opener Dhiraj Jadhav (31). The two added 100 runs for the second wicket in 21.5 overs. Jadhav was the next to depart giving a return catch to Ramesh Powar.

Abijit Kale (87) then replaced Jadhav but four balls later Kanitkar returned to the pavilion after giving a catch to Sachin Sawant off Powar. During a 105- minute stay at the crease, Kanitkar faced 82 balls and found the boundary ropes 10 times. Then Maharashtra recovered well from the double blow as Kake and Kaushik Aphale (69) forged a 111-run partnership for the fourth wicket.

Aphala, who fell for a catch by Sawant off Powar, had stayed at the centre for 106 minutes and faced 106 balls and hit eight fours and two sixes. Thereafter, Kale found able company in Sagar Shah (43 not out) to take the home team to stumps without any further hiccups. The unbeaten partnership was worth 99 run. Ramesh Powar was the most successful bowler for Mumbai with figures of 3 for 79 in his 15 overs.