Surya's bright ton powers Mumbai’s fightback
Visitors end Day 3 at 285/3, lead Saurashtra by 212 runs at Rajkot
BRIEF SCORES: Mumbai 262 and 285 for 3 (Suryakumar Yadav 134, Shams Mulani 67 not out) vs Saurashtra 335 (Sheldon Jackson 85, Chirag Jani 84 not out, Royston Dias 4-64). Mumbai lead by 212 runs.
Suryakumar Yadav blazed his way to 134 to lead Mumbai's fight back on the third day of their Elite Group B Ranji Trophy game against Saurashtra after the domestic giants conceded 73 runs first-innings lead.
After losing opener Bhupen Lalwani (3) early, Surya (134 off 130 balls, 17x4, 3x6) and Jay Bista (46) wiped out the deficit in just 16 overs to keep Mumbai in the hunt at the SCA Stadium in Khandheri.
Surya notched up his 14th first-class 100, as he played his usual aggressive game, while Bista played second fiddle.
The duo added 119-runs for the second wicket and their partnership brought Mumbai back into the contention in what is a must-win game.
Surya got a life at 44 and he made optimum use of it. Mumbai went to tea at 120 for 1, 47 runs ahead.
But two overs after tea, Bista was dismissed by leftarm spinner Parth Bhut after giving a sitter to Harvik Desai in the slip cordon.
All-rounder Shams Mulani was promoted to number four and he added 98 runs for the third wicket with Surya as Mumbai looked to gain the upperhand.
But left-arm orthodox spinner Dharmendrasinh Jadeja, who troubled Surya, won the battle after trapping him in front of the wicket.
In-form Sarfaraz Khan joined Mulani and the two remained unbeaten when stumps were drawn with Mumbai at 285 for 3, extending the lead by 212 runs.
Earlier, resuming at the overnight 257 for 6, Saurashtra overhauled Mumbai's first-innings score of 262.
AT VADODARA: Baroda 174 and 259 vsTamil Nadu 490/7d. Baroda lost by an innings and 57 runs. Tamil Nadu: 7 points, Baroda: 0 points.
AT SHIMOGA: Karnataka 426 vs Madhya Pradesh 311/4. Madhya Pradesh trail by 115 runs.
AT NEW DELHI: Himachal Pradesh 283 and 24/0 vs Railways 545/7d. Himachal Pradesh trail by 238 runs.