Further signs of a mauling are in store if the Mumbai batsmen's display during the day -- which ended more than an hour behind schedule -- are any indication. Wasim Jaffer (batting 83: 160b, 211m, 13x4) and wicket-keeper Sameer Dighe (56: 156b, 205, 8x4) set the foundation for a run-carnival with their 144-run stand for the opening wicket.

Both openers, making a return to the team after missing out much of the action last season, were beginning an innings together for the first time. They lost no time in grafting their way against an attack lacking penetration. While Jaffer impressed with strokes off the back-foot, Dighe, tentative at the start, flourished withsome stylish square-cuts. The duo, after overhauling the rival total in the 33rd over, appeared heading for a big association when a little hesitation in taking a sharp run ended Dighe's tenure. Tejas Varsani, fielding at cover, displayed fine anticipation in swooping upon the ball and relaying it to left-arm spinner Hiren Patel.

Barring two occasions when he almost chopped the ball onto the stumps, the 20-year-old Jaffer was in no spot of bother till stumps were drawn for the day.

Earlier, Mumbai skipper Sachin Tendulkar, who had put the opposition in, had to use the services of just his medium-pacers. The Gujarat batsmen did the rest, falling prey to a persevering attack. Paras Mhambrey (4-31), Abey Kuruvilla (3-22) and Santosh Saxena (3-31) shared the spoils to begin their respective campaigns of the season on a positive note.

``You have to motivate yourself whatever the opposition be in a first-class match,'' remarked Mhambrey, when informed even a good performance against a weak opposition likeGujarat is likely to get noticed. ``At the end, it is the number of wickets that count,'' added Mhambrey, who had topped the Ranji bowling averages last season.

SCOREBOARD

Gujarat (1st innings): Nilesh Modi c Tendulkar b Mhambrey 9, Amrish Kotecha b Mhambrey 1, Niraj Patel c Tendulkar b Saxena 15, Mukund Parmar lbw Saxena 4, Tejas Varsani c Dighe b Saxena 5, Kirat Damani c Dighe b Kuruvilla 2, Bhavin Mehta b Kuruvilla 19, Pathik Patel c Kambli b Mhambrey 6, Hiren Patel c Mhambrey b Kuruvilla 11, Bhavik Patel b Mhambrey 5, Lalit Patel not out 0, Extras (lb 6, nb 7): 13. Total (all out in 185 mins and 35.4 overs): 90

Fall Of Wickets: 1-3, 2-15, 3-29, 4-38, 5-39, 6-51, 7-60, 8-76, 9-90

Bowling: Kuruvilla 12.4-4-22-3 (1nb), Mhambrey 13-1-31-4 (6nb), Saxena 10-4-31-3

Mumbai (1st innings): Wasim Jaffer batting 83, Sameer Dighe run out 56, Jatin Paranjpe batting 0. Extras (b 4, w 2): 6. Total (for one wicket, in 53 overs): 145

To bat: Sachin Tendulkar,Vinod Kambli, Amol Muzumdar, Rajesh Sutar, Paras Mhambrey, Abey Kuruvilla, Santosh Saxena and Rajesh Pawar

Fall Of Wicket: 1-144

Bowling: Bhavik Patel 14-7-26-0, Lalit Patel 9-2-31-0, Varsani 1-0-5-0, Hiren Patel 15-4-32-0, Mehta 11-2-39-0, Parmar 3-0-8-0.