MUMBAI: The fortunes swung from one team to another before Shivam Dube's attacking century helped Mumbai end Day One of their last Elite Group B match of the Ranji Trophy with a 133-run lead over Assam at the BKC on Friday.
Electing to bowl, Shardul Thakur's fiery spell of 6-21 saw Mumbai skittle out Assam for just 84 in 32.1 overs in the extended first session. On a pitch that was not easy to bat on, at one point Mumbai were in a precarious position at 110-5 but a 103-run sixth-wicket partnership between Dube and Shams Mulani (31, 47b; 4x4, 1x6) helped Mumbai finish at 217-6.
Dube was a notch above all the batters on a day which saw 16 wickets fall. He started cautiously, absorbing pressure that the Assam bowlers exerted on him before opening his shoulders. At stumps, he was unbeaten on 101 off 95 balls with the help of 10 fours and one six.
Later, Thakur revealed that Mumbai hoped that the pitch would be batter friendly as it would aid their batters to get some runs under their belt before the knockouts, but it was nowhere close to it.
He also lauded Dube's innings. "It's not easy to go out there, absorb the pressure. His innings was ideal."
Brief Scores: Assam 84 all out in 32.1 overs (Shardul Thakur 6/21) vs Mumbai 217-6 in 48.4 overs (Shivam Dube 101*; Rahul Singh 2/42)
