Fear of getting dropped spurs Mumbai tailender Chavan to maiden century

Desperate times leads to desperate measures. Left-arm spinner Ankeet Chavan, who hasn't had a great season, except a four-wicket haul against Maharashtra in Rajkot in October, seems to have picked up the momentum at the right time.


Big hit: Mumbai tailender Ankeet Chavan, who scored an unbeaten 102
against MP in Indore yesterday. Pic/Atul Kamble

The sword was hanging on his head, but spinning Mumbai to an outright win in the last league game against Punjab at the Wankhede Stadium in December, assured him another life. Yesterday, Chavan's maiden first-class ton virtually shut the door on Madhya Pradesh in the quarter-final of the Ranji Trophy at the Holkar Stadium in Indore.

Coming in at No 9, the left-hander remained unbeaten on 102 as Mumbai put up a mammoth 434, gaining a huge lead of 242 runs in the first innings. The hosts were 250 for three, getting an eight-run lead at the end of the penultimate day's play.

Pressure
"I was under intense pressure (of losing my place in the squad). It is with everyone in the team. I was keen to perform and merit my selection. I was desperate to perform and I am glad to contribute in such an important game," Chavan, who also took a wicket in MP's second outing, told MiD DAY from Indore yesterday.

Chavan never thought he could score a ton after coming into bat at the fag end of the innings. "It is good to get a hundred. Honestly, I wasn't thinking about the ton. I was only thinking of staying at the wicket with (Kaustubh) Pawar (who scored 161). "I was confident runs would come if I just stay there. It was also the team's goal to play as many overs as possible," said Chavan.