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Mumbai: Sachin Tendulkar roared back to form ahead of the upcoming Test series against England with a strokeful 137, while Ajinkya Rahane remained unbeaten on 105 to help Mumbai pile up 344 for four against Railways on the opening day of their four-day Ranji Trophy match on Friday.
Tendulkar, in Mumbai colours after three years, came in at no 5 and batted fluently after starting cautiously against a largely inexperienced Railways attack to reach his hundred off 103 balls with 14 fours and 3 sixes.
In all, the senior India batsman, whose last hundred in any form of the game was his unprecedented and much-feted 100th international century at Dhaka on March 16, struck 21 fours and three sixes during his 136-ball knock before edging medium pacer Anureet Singh to the slip cordon, three overs before stumps.
The 200-run partnership between Tendulkar, who batted for just over three hours, and one down Rahane placed Mumbai in command in their opening Group A fixture at the Wankhede Stadium.
Rahane, who fully utilised the life given to him on seven by Murali Kartik, faced 203 balls and struck 13 fours during his unconquered knock. Giving him company at close of play was Abhishek Nayar, who is yet to open his account.
The cynosure of all eyes on day one of the match was clearly Tendulkar. The 39-year-old senior batsman's form in the last Test series against New Zealand at home was a cause for concern as he was bowled three times in as many innings.
But the script was totally different on Friday, albeit at a lower level of competition.
The three-figure innings was his 18th in the championship and his 79th in first class cricket and it placed him within striking distance of overhauling Sunil Gavaskar's domestic record of 81 tons in games lasting three or more days.
The right-handed batsman, in contention for a spot in the India's first Test squad against England to be picked on November 5, made Railways pay for the fielding lapse by making an unbeaten century.
Rahane also put on a double century partnership with Tendulkar who surprisingly came in at 5 instead of his pet no 4 position.
Just before lunch, Tare was dismissed, bowled by Kartik, for 47, made off 180 balls with eight fours.
