Pawar batted sensibly even after losing partners—skipper Ajinkya Rahane (14), Jaffer (19) and Suved Parkar (20). Playing only his third first-class game, he took his time to settle down and showcased composure during his 170-ball knock in which he hit 12 fours in his four hours-plus stay at the wicket. His main area of scoring runs was in front of the wicket and played well on both sides of the pitch. The only time he looked like doing something different was when he played a reverse sweep on 98 off left-arm spinner Vicky Ostwal (1-37) and took a single. However, three balls later, Ostwal clean bowled Parkar by bowling in the rough, which ended day’s play.

“I told them [bowlers] to keep it simple—bowl a good line and length. We bowled around 30-32 overs in the last session, gave away only 60 runs and took two big wickets. We planned it that way. We knew Armaan could play big shots in front of the wicket, so we planned for that. We made Ajinkya play as many balls as possible and we were successful in that plan,” Maharashtra coach Santosh Jedhe said on Wednesday.

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Mohit claims fifer

Earlier, the hosts had some morning joy thanks to Mumbai pacer Mohit Avasthi’s maiden fifer (5-89). First, he disturbed Saurabh Nawale’s (58) furniture; the batsman managing to add only two runs to his overnight total. Avasthi then sent back Satyajeet Bachhav (11), caught by second slip fielder Jaffer. Thanks to Mumbai’s sloppy fielding, Maharashtra added 70 runs to their overnight total of 314-6. All-rounder Ashay Palkar (66 not out), who was unbeaten on 32 on Tuesday, reached his half-century with a back foot punch for four in the cover region off Siddharth Raut. Luck was on Palkar’s side. When he was on 53, substitute fielder Dhrumil Matkar failed to convert a half chance at short cover off pacer Tushar Deshpande (2-89). Even Ostwal (17) enjoyed a life on 12 when ’keeper Pawar dropped him off the same bowler. And Bachhav had yet to open his account when Jaffer dropped him at second slip off Avasthi.

Also Read: Ranji Trophy: Kedar Jadhav show all the way

Brief scores
Maharashtra 384 all out (K Jadhav 128, A Palkar 66', S Nawale 58; M Avasthi 5-89, S Mulani 3-118, T Deshpande 2-89) v Mumbai 187-5 (P Pawar 99', D Saxena 35; P Dadhe 2-50)