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Mumbai: A man who had forgotten how to score runs and another who wasn't even in the 30-man probables list when the season began, rescued Mumbai after they had suffered yet another batting collapse, on a riveting opening day of their Ranji Trophy quarterfinal against a spirited Maharashtra outfit at the Wankhede Stadium, on Wednesday.
Suryakumar Yadav, who has struggled for the past couple of seasons after enjoying a smashing start to his First-Class career, roared back into form with a brilliant 120 (139b, 18x4), while Vinit Indulkar, playing for Mumbai after six years, struck a composed 82 (164b, 13x4), as the duo added 183 for the fifth wicket after the Ranji giants founds themselves in a hole at 101 for four just after lunch on day 1.
The visitors lost the initiative after winning the toss on a greenish track because of that partnership, but got back into the contest by claiming quick wickets through the second new ball. At stumps, the defending champions were 306-7.
For Maharashtra, seamers Samad Fallah and Anupam Sanklecha, who knows a thing or two about the Mumbai batsmen as he plays for DY Patil in the local circuit here, made reasonable use of the pace-friendly conditions, picking up three wickets each.
Yadav's ton was the first since 2012.
The hosts started decently in the morning, before their batting woes returned. After a 35-run opening stand, Aditya Tare, coming in at No. 3, scratched around for 42 balls, but managed just three runs, before a rash stroke ended his misery.
Veteran opener Wasim Jaffer looked fluent in his 44 (98b, 8x4), but a miscued pull ended his stay. The scenario got bleaker when Abhishek Nayar too made his way back, but Yadav and Indulkar put their heads down and rescued their side.
Indulkar was patience personified, leaving balls with assurance and punishing the loose ones. The Maharashtra seamers tested him with short stuff, but he dealt with it well.
Brief scores
Mumbai 306 for 7 (Suryakumar 120, Indulkar 82)
