Shardul, Dube shine for Mumbai against hapless Assam

India internationals Shardul Thakur and Shivam Dube starred with the ball and the bat respectively as 41-time champions Mumbai took the upper hand on the opening day of their Ranji Trophy Group B match against Assam here on Friday.

Shardul (6/21) was simply unplayable with the new ball as he dismantled Assam for a meagre 84 in 32.1 overs after Mumbai opted to bowl.

Left-arm spinner Shams Mulani (2/8) also chipped in with a couple of wickets.

It was a struggle for Assam from the first ball as only three of their batters could manage double-digit scores with Abhishek Thakuri (31) being the top-scorer.

In reply, Dube smashed his way to an unbeaten 101 off 95 balls with the help of 10 boundaries and five sixes to guide Mumbai to 217 for 6 in 48.4 overs at stumps on the first day.

Besides Dube, Mulani (31), Prithvi Shaw (30), skipper Ajinkya Rahane (22) and wicketkeeper Hardik Tomare (22) also contributed for Mumbai.

The match also witnessed a big drama after Mumbai captain Rahane was given out for obstructing the field for the first time in his 16-year cricketing career.

The incident happened on the last ball before tea.

Batting on 18 with Mumbai on 102 for 4, Rahane drove debutant Assam pace bowler Dibakar Johri in the mid-on region and quickly took off for a single.

But Dube, who was batting with him at that time, sent him back. While hurrying back, Assam captain Denish Das's throw at the keeper's end hit Rahane.

The Assam players appealed immediately for ''obstructing the field'' and Rahane was given out by the on-field umpire.

But during the tea break, Assam withdrew the appeal and Rahane returned to the crease after the break before being cleaned up by Dibakar Johri.

For Assam, Rahul Singh (2/42) and Johri (2/49) snared two wickets each.

Mumbai now enjoy a lead of 133 runs over Assam.

In Kolkata, Mukesh Kumar (4/18), who has been released from the Indian team to play in the premier domestic tournament, and Suraj Sindhu Jaiswal (4/47) shared eight wickets between them to bundle out Bihar for 95 in 46.4 overs after Bengal opted to bowl at the Eden Gardens.

Bengal, in response, finished the day at 111 for 2 in 33 overs. Opener Abhimanyu Easwaran was batting on 48 in the company of Anustup Majumdar (13 batting).

Bengal led Bihar by 16 runs.

In Lucknow, Sanjeet Desai hit an unbeaten 113 while skipper Amandeep Khare was batting on 70 to take Chhattisgarh to 238 for 4 in 87 overs after deciding to bat against Uttar Pradesh.

Aaqib Khan (2/55) picked up two wickets for Uttar Pradesh.

Brief Scores: In Mumbai: Assam 84 all out in 32.1 overs (Shardul Thakur 6/21) vs Mumbai 217 for 6 in 48.4 overs (Shivam Dube 101 not out; Rahul Singh 2/42).

In Kolkata: Bihar 95 all out in 46.4 overs (Mukesh Kumar 4/18, Suraj Sindhu Jaiswal 4/47) vs Bengal 111 for 2 in 33 overs (Abhimanyu Easwaran 48 not out; Ravi Shankar 1/14).

In Lucknow: Chhattisgarh 238 for 4 in 87 overs (Sanjeet Desai 113 not out, Amandeep Khare 70 not out; Aaqib Khan 2/55) vs Uttar Pradesh.

In Vizianagaram: Andhra 260 for 7 in 89.3 overs (Maheep Kumar 81, Ricky Bhui 79 not out; Basil Thampi 2/42, Nedumankuzhy Basil 2/78) vs Kerala.