Teenager Ayush Mhatre, 17, scored a brilliant, unbeaten century as Mumbai posted 220-3 to take a 94-run lead at stumps on the opening day of their Ranji Trophy Group ‘A’ match at the Mumbai Cricket Association’s Bandra-Kurla Complex ground on Friday.
In the morning, Maharashtra skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad’s decision to bat first on a fresh pitch, backfired when they lost their top-five batters with score reading just 41. Mumbai pacer Mohit Avasthi (3-31), left-arm spinner Shams Mulani (3-7) and pacers Shardul Thakur and Royston Dias, who claimed two wickets apiece, needed just 31.4 overs to bundle out the visitors for 126.
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In reply, Virar boy Mhatre stamped his class on the match. Mhatre, who is playing only his third first-class game, batted sensibly despite losing his senior opening partner Prithvi Shaw (1) followed by one-drop Hardik Tamore (4) early to remain unbeaten on 127 (17×4, 3×6). Mid-way through his innings, the right-hander showed his brilliance with three successive fours off pacer Rajvardhan Hangargekar — two back-foot drives and one through mid-wicket.
Mhatre seems to have enjoyed facing left-arm spinners as he smashed them for three maximums. He hit two sixes against Satyajeet Bachhav and one straight over the head of Hitesh Walunj (1-37) to get to his half-century off just 63 balls. Mhatre shared two big partnerships — a third wicket 99-run stand with Rahane (31, 5×4) and an unbeaten 97 runs for the fourth wicket with Shreyas Iyer (45 not out, 4×4, 2×6).
Mhatre said he was confident throughout. “The first hundred is always special, but I was confident. I always try to play according to the situation. If the team needs me to stay at the wicket and control myself [from playing shots], I can’t play a silly shot and throw my wicket,” he told reporters on Friday.
Speaking of his partnerships with Rahane and Iyer, he said: “That partnership [with Rahane] was important. We kept small targets of [scoring] five-five runs. That helped me build my innings. In the afternoon, the wicket became easy for batting after the ball was moving a bit initially [first session]. They [Rahane and Iyer] told me to keep batting the way I’ve done, and not to think that this is senior cricket, so I need to bat differently. They said the runs will come automatically.”
Brief scores
Maharashtra 126 all out (N Naik 38, A Kazi 36*; S Mulani 3-7, M Avasthi 3-31, S Thakur 3-51, R Dias 2-32) v Mumbai 220-3 (A Mhatre 127*, S Iyer 45*, A Rahane 31; P Dadhe 2-51)
