'Masterful' Musheer!

Mumbairsquos batting concerns persist even at the knockout stage of the Ranji TrophyHowever young Musheer Khan fresh from a runnersup finish at the U19 World Cup for India in South Africa showed the way with a sparkling 128 not out 10x4 to help Mumbai reach a respectable 2485 against Baroda at stumps on Day One of their quarterfinal at Mumbai Cricket Associationrsquos Bandra Kurla Complex ground on FridayMusheer 18 is playing only his fourth firstclass game but the way he exhibited controlled aggression to counter Barodarsquos attack on a spinfriendly pitch proved he is as good as any senior pro He impressed everyone at the Bandra ground just like his elder floored connoisseurs with his debut halfcenturies in the third India v England Test at Rajkot recentlyWhile cricket fans following the ongoing fourth Test at Ranchi will anticipate another gem from Sarfaraz Musheer has the chance to be a big hero today if he carries on from his unbeaten situationBaroda begin wellThe Baroda bowlers had the upper hand in the first session of the day after Mumbai decided to bat Spin was always going to be the visitorsrsquo weapon once leftarm spinner Bhargav Bhatt 482 was introduced in the eighth over of the gameHe didnrsquot disappoint his skipper Vishnu Solanki as he sent back opener Prithvi Shaw 33 6x4 in his fourth over Shaw completely missed Bhattrsquos trajectory to be stumped by Mitesh PatelBhupen Lalwani 19 and Mumbai skipper Ajinkya Rahane three too became victims of Bhattrsquos disciplined bowling No 3 Musheer smashed his first four after facing 26 deliveries His first 50 included just three fours while his 100 was laced with a total of only six boundaries Though he excelled in sweeps and cuts Musheer focused on rotating the strike and building his innings as wellAlso ReadCrickets gender revolutionNo6 Suryansh Shedge 20 joined Musheer when the hosts were struggling at 904 Shedge played a welltimed straight drive for four off Bhatt However he failed to read Bhattrsquos topspin and was bowled for Mumbai to lose their fifth wicketDespite playing whiteball cricket last Musheer countered the redball challenge perfectly during his patient unbeaten knock across five hours He only shifted gears for a few minutes after reaching his maiden threefigure mark He hit four fours in the last few overs of the day as wicketkeeperbatsman Hardik Tamore 30 not out gave him good support for a 106run unbeaten stand for the sixth wicketMusheer celebrated his century by pointing his bat towards the dressing room and then to his father and coach Naushad Khan who was watching the match ldquoI wanted to keep speaking with my partner and play the remainder of the day It was not an easy wicket Rather than going for shots it was important to work with singles and doubles and look to bat for the 90 overs of the day I try to spend time on the wicket It is tougher in the beginning but eventually things ease outrdquo Musheer told reporters after the dayrsquos playTribute to Manohar JoshiBefore the start of the game players from both teams and match officials lined up to pay tribute to former Maharashtra chief minister and exMumbai Cricket Association president Manohar Joshi who passed away on Friday morning The Mumbai players also sported black armbands during the dayBrief scoresMumbai 2485 M Khan 128 P Shaw 33 H Tamore 30 B Bhatt 482 v Baroda