OST Sports Bureau
Mumbai, Dec 14:
Despite an early setback, hosts Mumbai consolidated their innings with a patient century by skipper Wasim Jaffer on the first day of the Ranji Trophy Group-A match against Odisha at the Wankhede Stadium here on Saturday.
Jaffer, who scored his 35th Ranji century, remained not out on 125 and took his team to 242 for 2 at draw of stumps. With eight wickets in hand, the hosts are all set to pile up a massive total.
Electing to bat after winning the toss, Mumbai lost both the openers in quick succession.
Opener and wicket-keeper batsman Aditya Tare was caught behind for 16 runs while Sushant Marathe made 27 before being bowled by Basant Mohanty with the score reading 70 for 2 at lunch.
However, the Mumbai skipper steadied the innings with Hiken Shah (67 not out) and the duo stitched an unbroken 172-run partnership.
Odisha lost a chance when Jaffer was dropped at 120 by Suryakant Pradhan off Biplab Samantray.
Odisha's leading bowler Basant Mohanty was the pick of the bowlers with 2 wickets for 33 runs while Dhiraj Singh was the most expensive bowler conceding 57 runs from just 9 overs.
For Mumbai, 42-year old leg spinner Pravin Tambe and Kshemal Waingankar made their debut while wicket keeper Sujit Lenka is playing his first Ranji match.