Mumbai, Nov 3: After Sachin Tendulkar and Ajinkya Rahane, today it was Abhishek Nayar’s turn to score a ton. The left-handed Mumbai batsman who had started the day on naught remained unbeaten on 107 off 164. He anchored the Mumbai innings and helped the hosts pile on 570 in the first innings, while captain Ajit Agarkar claimed Railways openers early on. Chasing the mammoth total, Railways’ were 86/2 at stumps with Nitin Shahu Bhille (21) and Sanjay Banger (36) at the crease at the end of Day 2 at the Wankhede Stadium.

Earlier, resuming on the overnight score of 105, Ajinkya Rahane collected 24 runs more, before departing for 129. He struck 17 boundaries during his 255-ball stay at the crease, before being trapped lbw by Krishnakant Upadhyaya to leave Mumbai on 383 for five in 104.4 overs. By then, Nayar who was at the other end, had opened his account and was on 14 when Agarkar joined him in the middle. Finding the fence at regular intervals and scoring at a quick pace the duo added 60 off 72 balls, until Shivakant Shukla sent back the Mumbai skipper for 20.

Iqbal Abdulla who replaced Agarkar departed soon after. Dropped on eight, the lower-order bat did not give the opposition much chance to rue the lapse as Kartik knocked off his bails later in the over to dismiss him for nine. At the fall of Mumbai’s seventh wicket for 462, lunch was called.

Post lunch, Nayar found an able ally in Ramesh Powar and duo took Mumbai past the 500-run mark during their 63 off 84-ball partnership. Powar who had chipped in with a quick 41 off 59 balls had brought up the 500 for Mumbai before being removed by Shukla. Dhawal Kulkarni, the next man to join Nayar in the middle, was back in the dressing room after scoring just one run with Nayar on 86. With the southpaw eyeing his century, Zaheer Khan came to the crease. With the last man for company Nayar who was still 14 runs short of the three-figure mark first hit Kartik down square-leg to get to 90. While Khan rotated the strike, Nayar added four more in singles and later smashed Kartik over long off to reach his century.

After Nayar became the third centurion for Mumbai and the home team went past 550, the last pair scored freely, until Khan was snapped by Anureet Singh while on 16 to end Mumbai’s first innings.

Agarkar then opened the bowling with Khan and Kulkarni. Hitting the deck hard, Khan pelted Amit Paunikar with bouncers. Both Railways openers got a life early. Shukla was on five while Amit Paunikar was on four when they were dropped. However, Paunikar got out for nine off Agarkar’s bowling. And a while later, he got Mumbai’s second breakthrough as well. Powar caught Shukla off Agarkar for 18 to leave Railways on 31 for two in the 14th over. That brought out the visitors’ captain, Sanjay Bangar to join Nitin Bhille in the middle.

Railways who were kept on a tight leash by the Mumbai pacers chose to cut loose when Powar was brought into the attack. They hammered the spinner for 21 runs in his first over including three boundaries and a six.

Brief scores:

At the end of Day 2: Mumbai1st innings 570 all out in 151 overs (A Rahane 129, A Nayar 107*, S Shukla 53/3, A Kathuria 81/3); Railways 1st innings 86/2 in 28 overs (Bangar 36*; A Agarkar 20/2)

At the end of Day 1: Mumbai1st innings 344/4 in 90 overs (S Tendulkar 137, A Rahane 105; A Kathuria 2/53)