Dhairya and captain Rishabh place Modern in command

Dhariya Patil (left) and Rishabh Sadake. Pic/Atul Kamble

Solid batting performances from opening batsmen Dhairya Patil (81) and captain Rishabh Sadake (83) helped Modern English School (Kandivli) take a valuable 53-run first innings lead over Oxford Public School (Chembur) on Day 2 of their three-day MSSA inter-school Giles Shield cricket tournament final at Wankhede Stadium on Saturday.

After restricting Oxford Public School to 218 all out in the first innings on Friday, Modern English School amassed 271 for nine in the first (80 overs) innings.

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Dhairya's 134-ball knock contained seven hits to the boundary and two sixes. Rishabh, who had scored 157 against Oxford Public School in the league match, took 112 balls to score his runs with 13 well-timed shots to the ropes. Other notable contributions came from middle-order batters Praanav Iyengar (33) and Shaswat Naik (29 not out) to boost the innings and to take control of the match.

Off-spinner Praveer Singh (5-67) was Oxford's most successful bowler.

Oxford Public School in their second (40 overs) innings reached 15 for one wicket in four overs before stumps were drawn for the day.

Opener Arhan Patel was dismissed for four, while Jasit Gohil was batting on 11 with Parth Nalwade yet to open his account. The Chembur schoolboys will have to score quick runs to first wipe out the lead and then set a challenging target for the opposition.