Tendulkar ton rescues Mumbai

Sachin Tendulkar played the rescue act on Saturday. The Indian batting star scored 108 to help Mumbai, down in the dumps at 129 for five at one stage, to reach the cushion of 391 for eight off 90 overs at stumps on the first day of their West Zone Ranji Trophy league match against Baroda at the MIG ground in Mumbai.

Put in to bat, Mumbai were rocked by the early dismissal of Robin Morris who was bowled by Rakesh Patel in the second over of the morning for three. Wasim Jaffer and Amol Muzumdar took the score slowly to 40 when Zaheer Khan had the former caught by Baroda captain and wicketkeeper Nayan Mongia for 17. A little later, the Indian left arm seamer struck again trapping Muzumdar leg before for 21.

The score was 51 for three when Vinod Kambli joined Tendulkar. The two old school mates initiated a recovery process by adding 72 runs off 10.2 overs. But then Kambli, who had dominated the partnership by hitting 42 off 46 balls with eight fours, was caught by H Jadhav off Valmik Buch. In the next over, Zaheer Khan captured his third wicket when he had Sameer Dighe leg before for two.

Mumbai had scored their runs at nearly five an over but all the same they were now struggling at 129 for five. However, Tendulkar and Sairaj Bahutule then turned the innings around with a sixth wicket partnership of 143 runs off 25.1 overs. Tendulkar, who did the lion's share of the scoring, duly reached his hundred and then on 108, edged Sukhbir Singh to Mongia. The 27-year-old Indian batting maestro, in a stay of 3-1/4 hours, faced just 95 balls and hit eleven fours and three sixes.

Ajit Agarkar joined Bahutule but the latter did not last very long after Tendulkar's departure and was caught by Connor Williams of Buch for 67. Bahutule batted 2-1/2 hours, faced 111 balls and hit eleven fours. Romesh Powar was run out for ten at 304. But the ninth wicket pair of Agarkar and Paras Mhambrey prolonged Baroda's agony till the close and came through unbeaten, having added 87 runs off 22.4 overs. Agarkar by close was batting with 69 compiled off 114 balls and inclusive of ten fours while Mhambrey, who was on 35, faced 68 balls and hit five of them to the ropes. Zaheer Khan, with three for 66, was the pick of the bowlers but generally the Baroda attack came in for a lot of punishment