Rohit (163*) keeps Mumbai in the hunt Hosts 364-3 In Reply To Punjab’s 580

Rohit (163*) keeps Mumbai in the hunt

Hosts 364-3 In Reply To Punjab’s 580 

Mumbai: Failure in the shorter format of the game shouldn’t be reason enough for a player to be constantly ignored for the longer version. Rohit Sharma proved this yet again at the Wankhede Stadium, coming up with an unbeaten 163 that allowed Mumbai to stay afloat at 364-3 chasing Punjab’s 580 on Day Three of the Group ‘A’ Ranji Trophy league tie at the Wankhede Stadium, on Monday.
    Mumbai had a mountain to climb after Mandeep Singh’s double century had given visitors Punjab the momentum to set up a daunting total in their first innings, batting first. With Mumbai’s No. 3, Ajinkya Rahane, losing his wicket early in the day, the hosts seemed in a spot of bother but Rahane’s overnight batting partner and opener Kaustubh Pawar (78) stood his ground for a half-century and along with Sharma helped Mumbai get closer to the 200-run mark.
    Pawar’s dismissal brought wicket-keeper-batsman Hiken Shah to the crease and he joined hands with Sharma for the latter part of the day constructing the Mumbai innings.
    The hosts are still 216 runs short of the Punjab total but with seven wickets in hand and Sharma looking good, Mumbai’s hopes of gaining the vital first innings lead on Day Four should not be difficult.
    Sharma’s innings is also some food for thought for India’s national selection committee that has steadfastly continued to ignore him in Test cricket given his continuing failure in the 50-over format. However, the batsman’s 14 first-class hundreds, an average hovering around 60, and the redoubtable talent speak differently of Sharma’s class in the longer format.
    Sharma’s effort compliments Mumbai’s resolve to stay alive in this game but the job is half done yet. With more than 200 runs still required before they can breathe easy, the onus will once again be on him to complete his double century on Tuesday and go further in search of the lead.
    The Punjab attack did not pose any great threat to the Mumbai batsmen with the exception of Sandeep Sharma and the experienced Harbhajan Singh who picked the only two wickets to fall for the day.
    The two bowlers also remained the stingiest of the lot and they will have to come up with something special to stop Mumbai on Day Four.

Rohit Sharma scored an unbeaten 163 on Monday, the third day of Mumbai’s Ranji match against Punjab being played at the Wankhede