Though the visitors were denied total advantage, Maharashtra's last pair of in Anirudha Harishchander and Kashinath Khadkikar did well to play out the last 20 minutes of the day to remain unbeaten on two and four respectively.

However, the story was a different in the opening stanza of the match, where the visiting bowlers were at the mercy of opener Amit Kumbhare. Amit, punished every loose ball, to give an impressive introduction of his sides batting, before departing 10 short of his maiden ton.

Barring Amit, who received able support from middle-order Sayyed Khot (31) and Agrani Bhosale (46), none did anything worth a mention.

Saurashtra paceman Jolly Jobanputra, fresh from his stint at the MRF Pace Academy, Chennai, along with skipper Uday Karavadra and off-spinner Virendra Vegda dealt heavy blows for the hosts claiming three wickets apiece.

There was no devil in the Nehru Stadium track, but the hosts story wrested on the wreckless approach by the top-order batsmen.

It all started with opener Virag Awate (1) who played into the bowlers hands for a return catch. Skipper Kapil Laghate, who has been Mr Consistent this season was the next to follow, flashing outside the off stump for Rakesh Dhruv to complete formalities at third slip with just 21 on the scoreboard.

Rohan Dharwat then made the same mistake, but this time the beneficiary being Jobanputra and the one to accept the snick was Anand Dhawda.

Maharashtra with their backs to the wall and just 39 runs logged did find some respite with Chetan Bhuimbar playing a defiant innings.

However, after putting on 42 for the fourth-wicket, Chetan, who played second fiddle to Amit, departed for nine after being adjudged leg-before to Uday Karavadra.

After lunch Amit played cautiously and patiently at one end, while new comer Sayyed Khot lived dangerously at the other and survived several close-calls. However, it was not the way they played that mattered as both put on an innings building 63-run partnership. With a `living on the edge' approach, Sayyed leaving ground decided to give spinner Virendra Vegda a go, which he missed. 'Keeper Anand with all the time in the world failed to effect the stumping, instead the ball bounced off his hands and fell on the stumps.

Amit Misal, disappointed his coach Ravi Yerawadekar, followed the trend set by his top-order. Chasing Virendra, Amit offered Sandeep Dharajiya the most simplest of catches at the first slip.

After holding fort at one end for most of the day, opener Amit finally ran out of patience to give Virendra his third wicket. Amit's 251 minute, 217- delivery knock finally ended with Uday lapping up the catch in the slip cordon.

Scoreboard
Maharashtra (1st innings): Amit Kumbhare c Uday Karavadar b Virendra Vegda (251m, 217b, 11x4) 90; Virag Awate c&b Jolly Jobanputra (20m, 14b) 01; Kapil Laghate c Rakesh Dhruv b Jolly Jobanputra (23m, 16b 1x4) 08; Rohan Dharwat c Anand Dhawda b Jolly Jobanputra (24m, 13b 1x4) 4 ; Chetan Bhuimbar lbw b Uday Karavadra (78m, 68b, 1x4) 09; Sayyed Khot st Anand Dhawda b Virendra Vegda (94m, 94b 4x4) 31; Amit Misal c Sandeep Dharajiya b Virendra Vegda (12m, 14b) 02; Agrani Bhosale st Anand Dhawda b Karavadra (73m, 61b, 9x4 1x6) 46; Nitin Dhatrak lbw b Uday Karvadra (80m, 62b, 2x4) 13; Anirudha Harishchandra batting (33m, 19b) 02; Kashinath Khadkikar batting (20m, 16b) 04.
Extras: (b-2, lb-3, nb-1, w-3) 9.
Total (for nine wickets 99 overs 360mts) 219.
Fall-of-wickets: 1/7, 2/21, 3/39, 4/81, 5/144, 6/151, 7/152, 8/200, 9/213.
Bowling: Jolly Jobanputra 19-3-48-3 (w-1), Sandeep atel 10-3-26-0 (nb-2), Uday Karavadra 38-15-53-3 (nb-1), Virendra Vegda 18-5-48-3, Rakesh Dhruv 13-4-39-0.