Ranji Trophy | Sarfaraz was hungry for a big score: Anand

Sarfaraz Khan celebrates his ton vs HP on Monday. Pic/MCA; (right) Akash Anand

Sarfaraz Khan's unbeaten century (139) and half-centuries from skipper Siddhesh Lad (87), wicketkeeper-batter Akash Anand (58 not out) and Musheer Khan (57) helped Mumbai pile up 398-4 against Himachal Pradesh (HP) on Day Two of their Elite Group D Ranji Trophy match in Bilaspur on Monday.

Having bowled out the hosts for 140 in their first innings, Mumbai took their overall lead to 258 runs at stumps. Sarfaraz, who has played six Tests, had managed just one run against Chandigarh in Mumbai's previous Ranji Trophy match at the Wankhede. On Monday, he shared an unbeaten 176-run fifth-wicket partnership with Anand. "It was fun to bat with Sarfaraz given his intensity and the way he plans as per the situation. He was hungry to score big because he got out early in the last game. Initially, he was cautious. His first 50 runs came through a proper grind. Even a Test player has to grind it out," Anand, who has three first-class centuries to his name, told mid-day over the phone from Bilaspur on Monday.

Anand said that patience was key to batting at the Luhnu Cricket Ground. "It's a black-soil pitch, has low bounce and you have to score runs in front of the wicket. Bounce is a little variable, but otherwise the wicket is very good for batting. So, it was more about how patient you can be and how many singles you can take and score odd boundaries that come in between. I will take a fresh start tomorrow [Tuesday] and am trying to make it a big one," he said.