'Getting out on 398 hurts'

Riding on a swashbuckling triple ton by skipper Bhupen Lalwani, Don Bosco (Matunga) cornered Modern English School on Day Two in a Mumbai Schools Sports Association-Mumbai Indians Giles Shield Elite Division match at Shivaji Park on Thursday.

Don Bosco declared their innings at 714-5 and their bowlers then ensured that Modern English School was left reeling at 9-7.

Bhupen (398 off 277 balls) put the hapless Modern English bowling attack to the sword with pacer Parth Ritwik being hit for 100 runs and right-arm spinner Rajesh Balgopal conceding 85. Bhupen's knock was laced with 64 boundaries.

Bhupen Lalwani takes a single during the match against Modern English School. Pic/ Atul Kamble

Compared to Day One, where he made 169 off 125 balls, Bhupen played a more mature innings yesterday and scored 229 which included 30 hits to the fence.

Finally, it was Modern English tweaker Swapnil Kayande who scalped the wicket of Bhupen.

"I don't know whether I should be happy or sad. It's good that I was able to score 398 but it hurt when I got out two runs short of 400. When I was on the field I wasn't bothered how many runs I have scored. But once I got out it did hit me hard," lamented Bhupen.

However, a spirited Bhupen added that he was now eying the Harris Shield record of 498 runs held by Armaan Jaffer.

"Today was a big day for me. Batting on an overnight score of 169, I was confident that I could complete my triple ton. But once I crossed the 300-mark, I just wanted to play through the day. Also, the 498-run record looked very difficult at the onset. So I wasn't going for it. I still have some more matches and will surelyu00a0try to break Armaan's record," Bhupen signed off.