Mumbai’s Shardul takes six, Shivam shines with ton

Shardul Thakur v Assam at BKC yesterday. Pic/Atul Kamble

As many as 16 wickets fell at the Mumbai Cricket Association's Bandra-Kurla Complex ground on Day One of Mumbai's Elite Group B Ranji Trophy match against Assam on Friday. However, Mumbai's India all-rounder Shivam Dube (95-ball 101 not out, 10x4, 5x6) stood out with the bat as the hosts took a 133-run first innings lead.

Earlier, put in to bat, thanks to Mumbai's India pacer Shardul Thakur's 6-21, Assam were bundled out for just 84 in 32.1 overs, before lunch. Left-arm spinner Shams Mulani took two wickets, while pacers Mohit Avasthi and Tushar Deshpande claimed one each.

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Then, Dube, who rescued the hosts, scoring 117 against Uttar Pradesh at the Wankhede Stadium last month, did it again. He smashed his second hundred of the season off just 87 balls. The highlight of Dube's knock was his hard-hitting and perfectly timed cover drives.

An incident that stood out though was Mumbai skipper Ajinkya Rahane being given out when he was on 18 for obstructing the field after he came in the middle of a throw from the deep. The Assam team withdrew their appeal later and Rahane returned, but only to be dismissed for 22.

Thakur however, revealed that Rahane did not want to bat again. "He [Rahane] wasn't trying to obstruct the field. Assam's coach [Trevor Gonsalves] saw the video and realised this and withdrew the appeal. Ajinkya was not keen to bat again, saying, ‘Once given out, it's out', but we [coach Omkar Salvi, Prithvi Shaw and Thakur] convinced him to."

Brief scores
Assam 84 (A Thakuri 31; S Thakur 6-21, T Deshpande 2-8) v Mumbai 217-6 (S Dube 101', S Mulani 31, P Shaw 30; R Singh 2-42, D Johri 2-49)