Test discard Vinod Kambli struck an unbeaten century to help defending champions Mumbai take a 63-run first innings lead against Baroda in the Ranji Trophy Elite Group 'A' match in Mumbai on Saturday.

Kambli was batting on 108 and had put on 136 runs for the unfinished seventh wicket partnership with Robin Morris (51 not out) at close on the second day.

Replying to Baroda's first innings 213 all out, the hosts, who were struggling at 142 for six off 39.4 overs at one stage finished on 278 for six off 86.1 overs when the umpires stopped play due to bad light with 3.5 overs to be bowled.

Kambli came to the crease at a crucial stage but managed to hang in there. He has so far hit nine fours after facing 188 balls in his 250 minutes stay at the wicket while Morris, who is lucky to be there after being dropped by Connor Williams at mid-wicket off off-spinner Ajit Bhoite when on 48, had hit six fours and a six off 134 balls in 198 minutes.

The two have added 136 runs off 46.2 overs so far and a lead of 100 odd runs should put a lot of pressure on the Baroda batsmen in their second innings.

For Baroda medium pacers Shekar Joshi claimed 3-65 while Irfan Pathan (senior) picked 2-31. Opening batsman Vinayak Mane (50) was the only other Mumbai batsman to make any substantial contribution to the total.

Scoreboard:

Baroda Ist innings: 213

Mumbai Ist innings:
V Mane b Patel                                 50
W Jaffer c Mongia b Pathan                0
N Shetty lbw b Joshi                           9
A Mazumdar lbw b Joshi                   10
V Kambli batting                             108
V Samant c Mongia b Joshi                 6
R Powar c C Williams b Pathan           8
R Morris batting                                51

Extras: (b-3, lb-6, nb-27)              36

Total: (for 6 wkts in 86.1 overs)       278

Fall of wickets: 1-10, 2-44, 3-87, 4-104, 5-122, 6-142.

Bowling: R Patel 19-3-83-1, I Pathan (Sr) 13-3-31-2, S Joshi 20.1-6-65-3, R Powar 14-2-45-0, A Bhoite 20-2-45-0.

Day 1 Report