While chasing a mammoth target of 358 runs in 50 overs, Mumbai’s opener Jaffer made sure that his opponents had much hard-work to do on field. Jaffer and Ajinkya Rahane (70) added a crucial 159-run opening stand in the first 20 overs.

“Wasim played like he was playing on his home-turf of Cross Maidan. He really showed how to build an inning with pace,” said Mumbai coach Praveen Amre. With Rahane getting trapped by K Panchal, Baroda got the major breakthrough in the 22nd over. “If he could have stayed a little more then things wouldn’t have got worse later,” Amre said.

And though wickets fell at regular intervals, Jaffer was irrepressible from the other end. “From the beginning itself we knew that Jaffer’s wicket will be the key for us. When he bats he is unstoppable,” said Baroda skipper Pinal Shah.

Interestingly, Jaffer, Rahane and Pinal Shah play for the same company Indian Oil in Mumbai’s local matches. With 277/6, Jaffer had a crucial 81 run-partnership with debutant Ankit Chavan (24 not out). Jaffer’s stubborn innings was studded with 19 boundaries and four sixes.

Earlier, wicket-keeper batsman Pinal Shah’s aggressive batting - 157 off 101 balls - and opener Yusuf Pathan’s 66 off 55 balls helped Baroda reached the mountainous score. “We dropped too many catches today but Pinal batted well. And after all I think chasing any target of more than 300 plus is always difficult. I’m happy to start with a win, it will boost our confidence,” Amre added.