Hardik tonmore!

Baroda spinner Bhargav Bhatt during Day Four of the Ranji trophy tie at MCA-BKC yesterday; (right) Mumbai’s Hardik Tamore celebrates his century v Baroda at MCA-BKC yesterday. Pics/Atul Kamble

An opportunity to open the innings was presented to Mumbai's wicketkeeper Hardik Tamore and he grabbed it, cashed in on it and celebrated it with a century.

And if Mumbai are on the threshold of making the Ranji Trophy semi-finals through their good showing against Baroda in the quarter-final at MCA's BKC ground, they have Tamore to thank in abundance.

"Prithvi and our coach [Omkar Salvi] asked me to open the innings. Ajju bhai [skipper Ajinkya Rahane] asked me if I could open after keeping wickets for 110 overs. I told him, ‘Sir, I've been opening from my age group cricket days for Mumbai, so I'm used to it. I like batting in the top three. Don't worry, I'll open,' " Tamore said after the day's play on Monday.

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Tamore (114) and Prithvi Shaw (87) guided Mumbai to 379-9 at stumps on Day Four, enjoying an overall lead of 415 runs.

Tamore, who started the day on his overnight score of 12, looked more confident and batted more freely as compared to his first innings' 57. He played a key role in shaping three partnerships - first with Musheer Khan (33) of 66 runs for the third wicket, 124 runs with No.5 Prithvi Shaw (87) and later 69 runs with Shams Mulani for the sixth wicket.

Tamore had batted at No. 7 in the first innings and steadied the ship along with Musheer when the hosts were struggling at 142-5. In the second innings, he shouldered responsibility perfectly as a makeshift opener due to Shaw's finger injury.

Third FC ton in 15 games

Tamore, 27, who is playing his fourth first-class game of the season, scored his third century in 15 games; the earlier three-figure knock being his 115 against Uttar Pradesh in the 2021-22 Ranji Trophy semi-final at Bangalore.

When Shaw was showing attacking intent, Tamore didn't mind playing the supporting role. "Prithvi urged me to do what I felt like doing - ‘hit the ball only when you feel it's there to be hit. If I'm looking to play my shots, you don't do the same,' " Tamore said.

Shaw was primed to get his second century of the season, but got out while going for a big shot off left-arm spinner Bhargav Bhatt (7-142). Shaw smashed 10 fours and two sixes during his 93-ball 87.

Mulani's all-round effort

Mumbai's ace left-arm spinner Shams Mulani once again displayed his all-round abilities by scoring 54 with eight fours and one six.

Looking for a good score, skipper Ajinkya Rahane (0) survived the first ball when first slip fielder Shashwat Rawat failed to grab an edge off Bhatt. However, Bhatt clean bowled Rahane a few balls later when the India player attempted to play a cut shot.

The contest was later reduced to Mumbai versus veteran spinner Bhatt, who bowled 84.4 overs across both innings and claimed 14 scalps - seven in each innings.

Brief scores
Mumbai 384 & 379-9 (H Tamore 114, P Shaw 87, S Mulani 54; B Bhatt 7-142) & 21-1 v Baroda 348 (V Solanki 136, S Rawat 124; S Mulani 4-121, T Kotian 2-49, T Deshpande 2-52)