Mumbai, Dec 9: After Mandeep Singh powered Punjab to 580 in the first innings with a maiden double-century, Mumbai were 69 for one at stumps on Day 2 at the Wankhede Stadium. Kaustubh Pawar and Ajinkya Rahane were batting on 26 and 18 respectively when play ended today.
Earlier, resuming the Punjab innings with Amitoze Singh, Mandeep continued from where he had left off yesterday. The centurion found an able ally in Amitoze and the duo dominated the first session and piled on 163 runs without losing a wicket in the morning. Scoring prolifically, Amitoze meted out special treatment to Ramesh Powar and hit the off-spinner for sixes on either side of the wicket. The duo had collected as many as 50 runs from Powar’s bowling in the first session. Scoring freely off the Mumbai bowlers, the visitors took their team to 451 for four at lunch and looked to continue the onslaught into the second session. While Mandeep found the fence with ease, Amitoze hit Ankeet Chavan over long-on for a six to get to his 90s. But immediately after launching the spinner over the ropes, Amitoze holed out to Dhawal Kulkarni on the next ball to depart for 91. With the fifth wicket stand halted for 195, Bipul Sharma came out to the middle. The left-hand bat opened his account with a six over mid-wicket off Chavan.
A while later, Mandeep reached his first double-ton in first-class cricket. His tryst with the Mumbai fielders continued as he survived a chance on the way to his landmark. While on 199 he edged the ball to the slips and survived a half-chance as Kaustubh Pawar diving to his left failed to pouch the catch and the batsman ran a double to bring up his 200. Having survived a few chances during his long stay at the crease, his innings finally ended for 211; he was bowled by Chavan. Mandeep’s departure brought in the Punjab captain, Harbhajan Singh to join Sharma at the crease. And while trying to sneak in a third run Sharma, sent back by the captain was run out by substitute Praful Waghela in the same over. Although Mumbai got two quick wickets, the opposition by then had the edge in the match.
In the next over Manpreet Singh Grewal (Gony), was the next to walk back for a duck after nicking Ajit Agarkar to Aditya Tare. Siddharth Kaul then joined Harbhajan Singh and the duo added 28 runs to the total before the Punjab skipper was sent back by the left-arm spinner. Siddharth and Sandeep Sharma then added 38 runs for the last wicket in an extended second session before Powar claimed Sharma for 23 to bowl Punjab out.
With a Punjab posting a mountainous first innings score, the Mumbai batters have their task cut out. Opening the innings for Mumbai, Kaustubh Pawar and Aditya Tare put together 32-runs for the first wicket until the latter returned to the pavilion for 32; caught by Manpreet off his own bowling. In the following over, Mumbai survived a few anxious moments as Sandeep Sharma uprooted Ajinkya Rahane’s leg-stump, but fortunately for the host’s the delivery was a no-ball. The duo took Mumbai through the remaining overs till close of play.
Brief scores:
At the end of Day 2: Punjab 1st innings 580 all out in 158.1 overs (Mandeep Singh 211, A Singh 91, Ankeet Chavan 3/142); Mumbai 1st innings 69/1 in 19 overs (K Pawar 26*, A Rahane 18*)
At the end of Day 1: Punjab 1st innings 288/4 in 89.4 overs (Mandeep Singh 102*, Ravi Inder Singh 76, A Agarkar 2/54, D Kulkarni 2/61)
