Jaffer, Muzumdar slam centuries

A superb 178 by opener Wasim Jaffer enabled Mumbai pile 372 runs for the loss of five wickets by close of the opening day of their West Zone Ranji Trophy match against Baroda on Thursday.

Electing to bat after winning the toss, Mumbai had a poor start, losing the wickets of captain Samir Dighe and Vinod Kambli when the scoreboard read just nine runs.

However, thereafter Jaffer and Amol Mazmudar, who also scored a century, pulled the team out of trouble and added a record 259 runs for the third wicket.

Jaffer's knock of 178 runs was studded with 24 fours and a six, after facing 180 balls during his 239 minutes stay at the wicket.

Muzmudar was still at the crease with an unbeaten 121 runs including 13 fours.

Sairaj Bahutule (18) was the other not out batsman when the stumps were drawn for the day.

For Baroda, medium pacer Rakesh Patel claimed three wickets for 88 runs.

Sujith Somsunder slams century for Saurashtra

A superb, unbeaten century by opener Sujith Somsunder (107) and his unbroken partnership of 144 for the fourth wicket with Firoz Bambhania (71 not out) helped Saurashtra to score 260 for three wickets against Gujarat on the opening day of the four-day West Zone Ranji Trophy league match at the Municipal Corporation ground in Rajkot on Thursday.

Saurashtra, after winning the toss opted to bat first and lost opener Prashant Joshi when score was four. Medium pacer Hitesh Majumdar had him caught by Nilesh Modi for just one.

Sitanshu Kotak, the Saurashtra captain, also went cheaply, caught by wicketkeeper Pallav Vora of medium pacer Lalit Patel. Sitanshu, who made 18 which was studded with two boundaries, expressed displeasure over the umpire's decision.

Prakash Bhatt and Sujit Somsundar steadied the innings and added 73 runs for the third wicket before the former was caught by wicketkeeper off Bhavin Mehta. He made a sparkling 40 with the aid of seven fours.

Somsunder, who earlier played for Karnataka, came up with an impressive batting performance in only his first match for Saurashtra. Using his feet well against the spinners and medium pacers, he kept the scoreboard ticking at his will.

He completed his ton by hitting a huge straight six off Mukund Parmar as he went from 98 to 104.

Firoz Bambhania, who gave ample support to his partner, was on 71, which was studded with eight fours.

Brief scores:
Saurahtra (1st innings) 260 for three.
(Somsunder not out 107, F Bambhania not out 71, Hitesh Majumdar one for 47, Lalit Patel one for 39 and Bhavin Mehta one for 61).

Mail Cricket Editor