Abhishek Nayar has a reputation of breaking partnerships with his gentle medium-pace. But Mumbai captain Wasim Jaffer has told Nayar to concentrate on batting as they need runs from him at No. 6.
On Friday, after frontline medium-pacers Dhawal Kulkarni, Ajit Agarkar and the raw Rahil Shaikh failed to make any impact it was Nayar who brought Mumbai back in the game with three blows in 21 deliveries. Nayar went on to take a career-best 6 for 45.
However, HP gave a good account of themselves, reaching 250 all out, mainly due to the 101-run sixth-wicket stand between Ajay Mannu (61) and Sarandeep Singh (75). Mumbai were 19 without loss at stumps.
Openers Bhavin Thakkar and Sangram Singh put up a good resistance, comfortably helping HP to 50.
His first spell of 8-5-15-3 undid the fine start that the Plate qualifier had. HP slid from 50 for no loss to 50 for three.
Scores- HP 1st inn: B Thakkar c Powar b Kulkarni 29, Sangram S c Jaffer b Nayar 13, V Indulkar lbw b Nayar 0, P Dogra b Kulkarni 12, M Sharma lbw b Nayar 4, A Mannu c Samant b Powar 61, Sarandeep S c Bahutule b Nayar 75, V Bhatia 21*, A Thakur b Powar 8, V Malik b Nayar 7, J Mehta b Nayar 0; Extras (lb-2, w-1, nb-17) 20; Total (all out) 250; FoW: 1-50, 2-50, 3-50, 4-64, 5-74, 6-175, 7-223, 8-237, 9-244; Bowling: Agarkar 11-1-32-0, Kulkarni 19-2-45-2, Shaikh12-0-46-0, Nayar 17.5-6-45-6, Bahutule 11-1-50-0, Powar 10-1-30-2; Mumbai 1st inn: V Samant batting 14, W Jaffer batting 0; Extras (nb-5) 5; Total (for no loss) 19; Bowling: Thakur 3-0-8-0, Malik 3-0-11-0
{{/usCountry}}Scores- HP 1st inn: B Thakkar c Powar b Kulkarni 29, Sangram S c Jaffer b Nayar 13, V Indulkar lbw b Nayar 0, P Dogra b Kulkarni 12, M Sharma lbw b Nayar 4, A Mannu c Samant b Powar 61, Sarandeep S c Bahutule b Nayar 75, V Bhatia 21*, A Thakur b Powar 8, V Malik b Nayar 7, J Mehta b Nayar 0; Extras (lb-2, w-1, nb-17) 20; Total (all out) 250; FoW: 1-50, 2-50, 3-50, 4-64, 5-74, 6-175, 7-223, 8-237, 9-244; Bowling: Agarkar 11-1-32-0, Kulkarni 19-2-45-2, Shaikh12-0-46-0, Nayar 17.5-6-45-6, Bahutule 11-1-50-0, Powar 10-1-30-2; Mumbai 1st inn: V Samant batting 14, W Jaffer batting 0; Extras (nb-5) 5; Total (for no loss) 19; Bowling: Thakur 3-0-8-0, Malik 3-0-11-0
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