PUNE: A record double century partnership between Azim Kazi and Ashay Palkar helped Maharashtra claw back from the precipice and post a sizable first-innings lead against Delhi at the MCA stadium in Gahunje here on Wednesday.
Coming together with the team at 94/7 in the 12th over of the day, Kazi (119 batting) and Palkar (94) defied the Delhi attack to add 211 runs during their unbroken stand and put the hosts well beyond safety in the Ranji Trophy Elite 'B' cricket match. At stumps, Maharashtra were 305/7 and led Delhi 114 runs.
The Kazi-Palkar association is now the highest eighth-wicket stand for Maharashtra in Ranji Trophy, bettering the previous mark of 198 by Abhijit Kale and Sachin Aradhye against Baroda at the Nehru stadium in 1999-2000. For left-hander Kazi, it was his third first-class century in his eighth appearance. The 29-year-old has so far struck 12 fours and two sixes from 260 balls during his six and a half-hour stay at the crease.
The 33-year-old Palkar, coming in at No. 9 but no less a batsman by any means, showed remarkable composure to play a risk-free knock -consuming 240 balls during his five and a half-hour vigil. Kazi had a life when, the very next ball after reaching his fifty with a cover-driven four off left-arm spinner Vikas Mishra, he attempted to hoist the bowler over mid-wicket.
Vaibhav Rawal seemed unaware of his position as he took the catch while backing backward past the rope. It proved to be a costly error on a day when the sun shone bright enough to ease the pitch and make it typically batsman friendly.
Brief scores: Delhi 191 in 48. 2 overs (Himmat Singh 49; Manoj Ingale 5/43) vs Maharashtra 305/7 in 117 overs (Azim Kazi 119 batting, Ashay Palkar 94 batting; Simranjeet Singh 3/58). Maharashtra lead by 114 runs
