First Class cricket is a game of patience. While Andhra bowlers – despite losing its leader K.V. Sasikanth to an injury midway through the day – showed plenty of it, most of Mumbai batters had a blip in concentration on the first day of the Ranji Trophy Group B tie.
Except captain Ajinkya Rahane who perished to a dodgy decision for a golden duck, every Mumbai batter got a start. But none of them managed to convert the start into a big innings. As a result, Mumbai ended the day at 281 for six after being inserted into bat at the Sharad Pawar Cricket Academy ground.
Had it not been for an unbroken 57-run association between all-rounders Shams Mulani and Tanush Kotian, Mumbai would have lent the advantage to Andhra. The duel with the new red cherry on Saturday morning may well shift the pendulum of the game from its position at the centre for now.
