In-form opener Abhimanyu Easwaran sent a timely reminder to the national selectors with his third successive hundred while holding the Rest of India innings together after Mumbai posted a mammoth first-innings score of 537 in the Irani Cup here on Thursday.

Easwaran compiled an unbeaten 151 off 212 balls and laced his innings with 12 fours and a six on the third day of the match at the Ekana Cricket Stadium.

Thanks to Easwaran’s second Irani Cup hundred, RoI reached 289/4 in their first innings and reduced the deficit to 248 runs by stumps.

The 29-year-old Bengal cricketer, who finds himself in a three-way race with RoI teammates Ruturaj Gaikwad and Sai Sudharsan for the reserve opener’s slot in the Indian squad for their upcoming tour of Australia, reached his century in 117 balls.

Easwaran’s innings helped the team be steady after losing skipper Gaikwad (9) cheaply.

While Easwaran made merry, the others failed to leave a mark. Sudharsan got a start but could not capitalise on it, getting dismissed for 32 off 79 . Devdutt Padikkal failed to make a contribution of note and was sent back by pacer Mohit Avasthi for a 31-ball 16. Ishan Kishan also missed out on a great chance as he was out for 38 off 60 balls.

Overall, this was Easwaran’s fourth century of the season, which also includes a double ton against Bihar in the Ranji Trophy last February. In the Duleep Trophy,Easwaran finished second on the run-scorers’ list with his tally of 309.

Brief scores: Mumbai 537 (Sarfaraz Khan 222 not out, Ajinkya Rahane 97; Mukesh Kumar 5/110, Yash Dayal 2/89). Rest of India 289/4 (Abhimanyu Easwaran 151 batting; Mohit Avasthi 2/66).At stumps, Day III.

With inputs from PTI