Mumbai, Nov 2: Centurions Sachin Tendulkar and Ajinkya Rahane took Mumbai to 344/4 at the end of Day 1 of their first Ranji Trophy game of the 2012-13 season, against the Railways. The two Mumbai batsmen scored prolifically off the Railways’ attack, especially in the last session.

With Tendulkar returning to the dressing room late in the day, Rahane (105) and Abhishek Nayar (0) were at the crease when stumps were called at the Wankhede Stadium.

Earlier, hoping to make most of the Wankhede track that is known to have something in it for everyone, both the teams chose to field five bowlers.

After being put in to bat by Railways, Kaustubh Pawar and Aditya Tare opened the innings for the home team. The duo added 45 runs for the first wicket, before Pawar was dismissed by Anureet Singh Kathuria for 24. Ajinkya Rahane who then came out to the middle was dropped on seven by Murali Kartik at second slip off Hardik Rathod with the hosts on 67. The lapse in fielding proved costly as Rahane went on to score 105*. The Rahane-Tare duo continued to graft runs and were involved in a 55-run stand, until Kartik struck to end the partnership. After having done the hard work Tare was unfortunate to miss out on a half-century by just three runs. Then, few minutes before lunch, Rohit Sharma came in to bat at No.4.

When play resumed in the second session, Rahane and Sharma worked the ball around. But just as the partnership began to take shape, Sharma, while trying to sneak in a single while running towards the danger end, was run-out for 18 when a direct hit from Amit Paunikar at short square-leg found him out of the crease. At the fall of that wicket Sachin Tendulkar came out to face Kartik. The batting maestro got off the mark off the sixth ball as he picked a couple of runs through mid-wicket off Rathod. A while later Tendulkar struck Anureet Singh through point for his first boundary which came off the 31st ball that he faced. Meanwhile Rahane who was holding up one end continued to entertain with some breathtaking drives and reached his half-century with a couple through extra cover.

But all eyes were on the Little Master. Sighs from the stands penetrated through the glass enclosure of the press box as Tendulkar dabbed and poked at the ball. When he was on 12, a Rathod delivery took the inside edge off the master batsman’s willow, but it beat the stumps and the wicketkeeper to reach the fine-leg boundary. It wasn’t long before Tendulkar settled in and joined Rahane in milking the bowlers and as the partnership blossomed and runs flowed freely. Tendulkar hit the first six of the innings when he struck Shivkant Shukla over deep mid-wicket. With 110 runs coming off the second session, Mumbai were 214 for three at tea.

The duo continued to add to the total with ease as they resumed their partnership in the last session. The fifth over post tea saw Tendulkar reach his half-century with a four of Railways’ captain Sanjay Bangar through extra-cover, and then took the partnership to the three-figure mark later in the same over as he guided the ball through third-man for four more.

Tendulkar was on song as he continued to take on the Railways’ bowling attack. In the 78th over he singled out young Ashish Yadav for special treatment, launching the spinner over the boundary rope for consecutive sixe; Tendulkar joined Rahane on 94 and then with a single went past his partner. In the next over he flicked Kartik over mid-wicket to get to 99 and then with a single raced to his 18th century for Mumbai. His 103-ball effort brought up his 79th first-class ton. Rahane was not too far behind. With the new ball in hand, Rathod bowled to Rahane but the youngster first caressed the delivery through covers in the 81st over and then with a single reached his ton.

There was no relief for the Railways’ bowlers as Tendulkar continued to smash the ball all over the park. When the partnership reached 200, the veteran batsman was on 137 off 134 while Rahane was on 104.

It was towards the fag end of the day when Tendulkar returned to the dressing room. While attempting to upper-cut Anureet Singh, he was caught by Parag Madkaikar at second slip for 137 off 136. The fans who had trickled into the stadium throughout the day were treated to another masterpiece by the great batsman.

Abhishek Nayar then joined Rahane to take the Mumbai innings forward. Mumbai were 344/4 at the end of day’s play, and Rahane remained unbeaten on 105.

Brief scores:

At the end of Day 1: Mumbai 344/4 in 90 overs (S Tendulkar 137, A Rahane 105; Kathuria 2/53)