Incisive: Avasthi’s three-for rocked Maharashtra.
| Photo Credit: EMMANUAL YOGINI

Considering the traffic snarls observed in Bandra-Kurla Complex, the business hub where the Sharad Pawar Cricket Academy is situated, most of the roads in the vicinity are converted into one-way traffic.

The first day of the Ranji Trophy clash between arch-rivals also witnessed one-way traffic. So dominant was Mumbai in all the departments that the defending champion was firmly placed in the driver’s seat on the opening day.

An all-round bowling attack bundled Maharashtra out for 126 in an extended morning session. Teenager Ayush Mhatre then starred with his maiden First Class hundred. Mhatre (127 n.o., 163b, 17×4, 3×6) alone outscored Maharashtra and his vital partnerships with captain Ajinkya Rahane (99-run for the third wicket) and Shreyas Iyer (unbroken 97 for the fourth) meant Mumbai raced to 220 for three, a lead of 94.

Taking guard at the start of the afternoon session, Mhatre drove Maharashtra’s pace duo of Rajvardhan Hangargekar and Pradeep Dadhe – preferred ahead of Mukesh Choudhary and Rajneesh Gurbani – with panache even after losing two seniors. Dadhe accounted for Prithvi Shaw (missed the line off a straight one) and Hardik Tamore (caught-behind) but Mhatre was in his element.

That he was set for a big one was clear when he scored a hat-trick of fours – two backfoot punches through covers followed by a flick through midwicket – in Hangargekar’s second spell. While the teenager celebrated his fifty with a six off left-arm spinner, he reached the triple-figure mark with a single to third in the last session.

Had it not been for the Mumbai bowlers’ good work, Mhatre wouldn’t have had it set up on a platter. On a slightly sticky pitch, the pace trio of Shardul Thakur, Mohit Avasthi and Royston Dias dismantled the long batting order before Shams Mulani finished the innings off in a hurry.

Shardul’s much-anticipated duel with Ruturaj Gaikwad lasted only two balls as the pacer enticed Ruturaj into a false drive that flew to Mhatre at gully. Off the next ball, the promising Sachin Dhas was rapped on the pads with a full one.

From two for three, Maharashtra never recovered with Avasthi racing through the middle order, including the crucial scalp of Ankeet Bawane (caught at gully).

The scores: Maharashtra – 1st innings: Siddhesh Veer c Shreyas b Avasthi 11, Ruturaj Gaikwad c Mhatre b Shardul 0, Sachin Dhas lbw b Shardul 0, Ankeet Bawane c Mhatre b Avasthi 17, Satyajeet Bachhav lbw b Dias 8, Arshin Kulkarni c Shaw b Avasthi 14, Azim Kazi (not out) 36, Nikhil Naik c Rahane b Dias 38, Hitesh Walunj c Shaw b Mulani 0, Rajvardhan Hangargekar c Kotian b Mulani 0, Pradeep Dadhe c Mhatre b Mulani 1; Extras (b-1): 1; Total (in 31.4 overs): 126.

Fall of wickets: 1-3, 2-3, 3-23, 4-32, 5-41, 6-59, 7-117, 8-118, 9-120.

Mumbai bowling: Shardul 9-1-51-2, Avasthi 7-2-31-3, Dias 7-1-32-2, Mulani 6.4-1-7-3, Kotian 2-1-4-0.

Mumbai – 1st innings: Prithvi Shaw lbw b Dadhe 1, Ayush Mhatre (batting) 127, Hardik Tamore c Naik b Dadhe 4, Ajinkya Rahane lbw b Walunj 31, Shreyas Iyer (batting) 45; Extras (b 8, nb 3, w1): 12; Total (for 3 wkts. in 49 overs): 220.

Fall of wickets: 1-18, 2-24, 3-123.

Maharashtra bowling: Dadhe 11-1-51-2, Hangargekar 12-0-82-0, Kulkarni 3-1-7-0, Bachhav 8-0-29-0, Walunj 13-1-37-1, Veer 2-0-6-0.