13 November,2011 06:23 AM IST | | Sanjib Guha
Centuries by Rohit Sharma and Abhishek Nayar keep home team in fray vs Rajasthan
Mumbai need another 92 runs while Rajasthan need five wickets to take three points from the Ranji Trophy Group A outing at the Cricket Club of India.
A Nayar raises his bat after scoring a century on Saturday.
PIC/SURESH KK
In the first two days, Mumbai were nowhere near their best and Rajasthan took away the honours, but on Day Three on Saturday, Mumbai made a strong statement by finishing the day on 439-5 chasing 531, courtesy Abhishek Nayar (155 not out), Rohit Sharma (100) and Suryakumar Yadav (87).
Nayar though had to return after having muscle cramps before tea, but by that time, he had put Mumbai in a fighting position. He was well assisted by Sharma and Yadav. Sharma notched up his second successive ton this season while Yadav missed out on yet another chance to score a century.
Nayar though was positive after having taken some treatment at the end of the day. "It was just cramps and batting tomorrow won't be a problem," he confirmed.
On what motivated him to play such an innings to keep Mumbai in fray till the last day, Nayar said it was two early wickets that required him to stay at the crease.
"Rohit and Yadav got out and so I chose to bat as long as I could. I never felt the pressure as I concentrated on my batting and was not bothered about anything," he said after the day's proceedings.
