TAMILNADU VS BENGAL

Sourav Ganguly's much awaited return to Ranji action was put on hold as the first day of Tamil Nadu's match against Bengal at the India Cement Limited Guru Nanak College Ground in Chennai was completely washed out. Bengal will be hoping Ganguly's presence can lift them fom their mid-table status. Tamil Nadu will be relying on Abhinav Mukund and Subramaniam Badrinath, who are both amongst the top three run-getters in the Super League this season, to help them catch up with Mumbai at the top of the Group A table.

Mumbai got off to their best start of the season in Valsad, and carried on the momentum to reach 282 for 2 on the opening day against Gujarat. Sahil Kukreja made his fourth half-century in as many innings, and put on 166 upfront with wicketkeeper Omkar Gurav after Mumbai chose to bat. Gujarat, who used as many as eight bowlers, went wicketless in the morning session, and almost did so in the post-lunch session, till Kukreja fell to fast bowler Ishwar Choudhary for 81 in the 54th over. Eight overs later, Gurav was dismissed by Rajasthan Royals seamer Siddharth Trivedi. Those were the only breakthroughs Gujarat managed, as Ajinkya Rahane and Wasim Jaffer eased to an unbeaten 99-run partnership. While Rahane was unbeaten on 54, Jaffer was four short of his half-century. With Rohit Sharma and Abhishek Nayar yet to bat, Mumbai are looking set for a huge score, unless Gujarat can trigger a collapse tomorrow.