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DEAR REDIFF

Paranjpe sparkles; Honours even on first day

Lefthander Jatin Paranjpe scored a dazzling maiden hundred on the opening day of the Irani Trophy, enabling Bombay to score 237 for five. But Rest of India's late strike meant both teams shared the first day's honours at the Wankhede Stadium.

Paranjpe played some rousing shots -- he hit seven fours and five sixes -- in his 113 as Bombay, winners of the Trophy 13 times, stayed in charge most of the day. In the last hour, the visitors salvaged lost pride by grabbing three quick wickets in the last hour. Another notable success for the hosts: Opener Wasim Jaffer with 83.

The contest was also marred by a bizarre incident involving the day's hero. At 84, the southpaw was given out handling the ball, but Rest of India skipper Anil Kumble, who had appealed when the batsman pushed the ball to a fielder, recanted and recalled Paranjpe to the crease. Paranjpe celebrated his second life by hitting two more sixes.

Bombay won the toss, elected to bat and left out medium pacer Atul Ranade, wicket-keeper/batsman Samir Dighe and newcomer Nimish Shetty. RoI dropped Rohan Gavaskar, Amey Khurasia and Baroda medium pacer Sukhbir Singh.

Test discard Dodda Ganesh rattled Bombay when he had opener Amit Pagnis (2) slash the ball to Gagan Khoda at second slip. Paranjpe and Jaffer ensured no more aftershocks, sharing a second wicket stand of 140 off 49.3 overs.

But both batsmen were lucky to survive. Jaffer, who broke several records in the last Ranji season, was dropped by Test discard Nayan Mongia off Kumble on 31. The batsman was bamboozled by a top spinner which had lately been missing from Kumble's repertoire.

Leftarm spinner Venkatpathy Raju should have got Paranjpe twice, when the batsman was on 25 and 43. Paranjpe appeared to have got a huge nick on his pads, but umpire K Murali turned down the appeal for a catch. Paranjpe later smashed the ball to Raju, but the diminutive Hyderabad bowler could not latch on to the return catch.

These two hiccups apart, Paranjpe demonstrated Bombay's customary bench strength. On a pitch which showed sudden bounce he danced out to hit sixes. He first lofted Raju over mid-on for a six and when Kumble replaced him he greeted him with another six. When Raju returned, he was smothered first with a front foot drive and then a swing over his head for boundaries.

Soon after lunch which was taken at 99 for one (Paranjpe, 45), the batsman was stranded in the middle of the pitch, but Pankaj Dharmani's throw was wilder than Tarzan. Paranjpe promptly made Kumble pay for the error with another six.

The legspinner -- perhaps riled by the manner in which he was treated by a non-Test playing cricketer -- appealed when Paranjpe pushed the ball to the fielder after playing it down. It was a gesture seen often enough on the field, but technically it is out. Kumble -- probably unwilling to stir a hornet's nest -- then changed his mind after Murali had raised the finger and recalled Paranjpe.

Jaffer departed after hitting nine fours and making a good impact with his technique. His full blooded shot was converted into a catch at short mid-wicket by Khoda. This gave Kumble his only success. Still, Bombay looked comfortable at tea. Captain Sanjay Manjrekar looked solid and only a calamity, it seemed, could push Paranjpe to the pavillion. Both men shared a 72-run stand.

Twenty balls changed all that. From 227 for two, Bombay tumbled to 229 for five. Kumble caught Paranjpe brilliantly at short cover off Aashish Kapoor at 227. Two runs later, an easy catch courtesy Manjrekar (27) came his way off Raju.

Sulakshan Kulkarni, the new batsman, dragged the next ball onto his stumps for nought. Raju finished with two for 66. Amol Muzumdar and Ajit Agarkar were on five each at close of play.

For Paranjpe, who has been in and out of the Bombay team, October 1 will provide sweet, sweet consolation. And his 243 ball knock should see him through the 1997-98 season. Ironically, had Kambli and Tendulkar been around for this game, he would have been twelfth man.

The Score Card:

Bombay, first innings:
W Jaffer c Khoda b Kumble 83
A Pagnis c Khoda b Ganesh 2
J Paranjpe c Kumble b Kapoor 113
S Manjrekar c Kumble b Raju 27
A Muzumdar batting 5
A Agarkar batting 5
Extras 2 (2 byes)
Total 237 for five wkts off 93 overs

Fall Of Wickets: 1/15, 2/155, 3/227, 4/229, 5/229.

Bowling:
Ganesh 10-3-25-1
Robin Singh (jr) 14-3-42-0
Raju 21-6-66-2
Kapoor 23-5-42-1
Kumble 25-8-60-1

UNI