Niranjan Godbole and Hrishikesh Kanitkar scored majestic centuries to take Maharashtra to a position of strength at the end of Day Three of their Ranji Trophy league match against Saurashtra at Pune.

Frustrated at the start of Day Two by a resolute last-wicket partnership for Saurashtra, the home side finally bowled their rivals out for 331, with the final pair putting on 84 runs.

Maharashtra started their innings badly, with opener JS Narse falling with no score on the board. Thereafter, however, it was the home side all the way. Kanitkar and Godbole put on 316 runs for the second wicket before the former fell, having made a fine 140 off 214 balls, with 18 fours. His partner fell 19 runs later, having scored 186 off 284 balls; Godbole thus ensured his side the vital first-innings lead.

Abhijit Kale further consolidated his team's position by making a fine 58, and smaller innings further down the order took Maharashtra's total to 507 on the third day. Facing a deficit of 176, Saurashtra made a brave reply, ending the third day on 112/2, with opener Sujith Somasunder making a brisk 70 off 97 balls, striking 12 fours before being dismissed.

Gujarat face monumental task

Packing Gujarat off for a paltry first-innings score, Mumbai then scored rapidly to set Gujarat a huge target of 400 runs in their Ranji Trophy league match at Bulsar on Tuesday.

Bowled out in their own first innins for 315, with SG Bhatt taking 7-43 for Gujarat, Mumbai restricted Gujarat to 185. The bowling attack shared the honours, and only the efforts TN Varsani (53 off 172 balls) and K Damani (50 pff 86 balls) lent substance to the innings.

In their second innings, Mumbai's batsmen used the long handle to good effect. Wasim Jaffer, at the top of the order, made 75 off 90 balls with 12 fours, and K More gave him good support to make 61. Mumbai skipper Samir Dighe declared the innings closed at 269/9.

At the close of play, Gujarat were reeling at 33/2, with both openers back in the pavilion. The remaining batsmen will have to do spectacular work to ensure that their side draws the game, let alone win it.

© CricInfo