Mumbai, Nov 10: Mumbai used as many as nine bowlers in a bid to take wickets and restrict Rajasthan to a low total on Day 1 of the Ranji encounter between the two sides in Mumbai’s Brabourne Stadium. Everyone in the home side except, skipper Wasim Jaffer and wicketkeeper Onkar Gurav, had a go with the ball on what was a grueling day for the fielding side.

Mumbai skipper Wasim Jaffer spoke to the media after the end of the first day’s play where Rajasthan posted a healthy 309 thanks to an unbeaten century from their skipper.

Excerpts from the interaction:

On the day’s proceedings

[We] gave 30-40 odd runs more [than we should’ve]. In the last session, it seemed a bit like we were going through the motions. Maybe [we] were a bit tired. Bowling 90 overs in this heat and a little inexperienced attack – Murtuza [Hussain] and Kshemal [Waingankar] [also contributed to lack of success with the ball]. The wicket also wasn’t as helpful as expected. I think 260-270 [runs] would have been a decent score.

On Avishkar Salvi being ruled out of the game on match day

Avishkar [Salvi] has gone back home. We will see his availability for the next match. He was [carrying] a little bit of illness from yesterday so we thought we would take a call in the morning [but] he couldn’t make it.

On the bowling woes

We were looking for early wickets which didn’t happen. Apart from Akash [Chopra’s] wicket, which was important, obviously. But [Vineet] Saxena and Hrishi [Hrishikesh Kanitkar] played well. [Except] in the last session, I think for the first two sessions we were pretty okay. We didn’t give more than three runs an over but in the last session we gave away about 30 odd more runs.

On the rationale behind using as many as nine bowlers on the day

[The pitch] was not [not helping the bowlers] a lot, so [we] just had to give somebody else a chance to see if they could come up with a breakthrough. Surya [Suryakumar] Yadav did that [he picked the wicket of Ashok Menaria]. You never know [what will help]; unless you try you don’t know. They [batsmen] are all used to the normal bowlers so [when] you’ve got the option, why not use it?

On claiming the wicket of Rashmi Parida at the end of the day

That is a big boost. At least somebody coming in early in the morning with the new ball there, we [are] hoping [will provide the breakthrough]. After this wicket [of Rashmi Parida] there is a wicketkeeper and all the bowlers, so a couple of early wickets and we can still be in the game.

On his opposite number’s unbeaten innings of 129

Apart from [Kanitkar having played in Mumbai before], he is an experienced guy. He has been there for about 16-17 years; obviously that helps. He is in good form. Last year also he got a hundred against us so he is an experienced campaigner. Plus the wicket wasn’t helping a lot so and he played well. You’ve got to give credit to him.

On whether Mumbai back themselves to chase any total given their batting line-up

We have to back [ourselves]; there is no option. Whatever they make we have to back ourselves to at least take the first innings lead. We will see; we would like to restrict them to as low a score as possible.