England beware! Sachin Tendulkar smashes ton in Ranji tie

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 in Mumbai 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.

Sachin Tendulkar in full flow against Railways. Pic/AFP

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 here.

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 today, 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.

Scorecard on the first day of the four-day Ranji Trophy Group A match between Mumbai and Railways at the Wankhede Stadium

Mumbai (1st innings):

K Pawar c Rawat b Anureet Singh 24
A Tare b Kartik 47
A Rahane batting 105
R Sharma run out 18
S Tendulkar c Madkaikar b Anureet Singh 137
A Nayar batting 0
Extras (lb 4, nb 7, w 2) 13
Total: (for 4 wkts in 90 overs) 344
Fall of wickets: 1-45 2-100 3-143 4-343
Bowling: Upadhyay 18-1-78-0, Rathod 21-1-64-0, Anureet Singh 17-4-53-2, Bangar 8-0-44-0, Kartik 20-2-55-1, Ashish Yadav 5-0-33-0, Shukla 1-0-13-0u00a0