Mumbai skipper's unbeaten knock on a bowler-friendly wicket lights up the dressing room
Mumbai skipper's unbeaten knock on a bowler-friendly wicket lights up the dressing room
|
|
Wasim Jaffer caresses one through the covers. pic/sachin halde |
After two-and-a-half frustrating days, there were many happy faces in the Mumbai dressing room at the Cricket Club of India (CCI) yesterday. Mumbai skipper Wasim Jaffer appeared not only happy but also content.
For, he had just returned to the dressing room after scoring a masterly, unbeaten 103 when stumps were drawn on the third day of their Ranji Trophy Super League tie against Orissa.
Because of unseasonal rains, the first two days had to be called off without a ball being bowled. Yesterday, after the first session was lost because of the dampness on the square, play could resume only at 1 pm. Orissa won the toss and put Mumbai in. Orissa's decision to field also seemed to be a right one as they struck two early blows in the form of openers Sahil Kukreja (1) and Sushant Marathe (6). But once Jaffer came in, he took charge of the situation. Along with Prashant Naik, Jaffer put on 175 runs for the third wicket. Naik was the last man out on the day for 67, as Mumbai closed the day at 184 for 3.
Wicked wicketJaffer, who used the two-day forced holiday to good effect, said that initially the ball was moving a bit but things soon got under control.
"Their bowlers depend a lot on swing so it was a good set up for them," Jaffer said, adding that he spent the first day sleeping and relaxing with music on the second. Though Jaffer said they were in a good position, he stressed that had they got all four days, they had a realistic chance of going for an outright win.
For now though, a target of around 270 is the main objective for the skipper.
