CHENNAI (India), Sept 20: Sachin Tendulkar followed up his first innings 94 with another half-century as national champions Mumbai set Rest of India a challenging 340 for victory in India’s premier domestic five-day match on Saturday.

The 30-year-old Tendulkar, back from hand surgery in April, cracked five fours in his 108-ball 50 as Mumbai scored 244 in their second innings on a greenish wicket on the third day of the annual Irani Cup.

The Rest, bowled out for 202 in their first stint, were 55 for two at stumps having lost Sanjay Bangar (1) and Virender Sehwag (36). But Rahul Dravid (16 not out) kept them in the hunt with Vangipurappu Laxman and Saurav Ganguly yet to bat.

Mumbai, overnight 11 for no loss, had lost openers Wasim Jaffer and Vinayak Mane early to be reduced to 15 for two before skipper Tendulkar steadied the innings.

But the team were in trouble again at 115-6 when he departed, caught at square-leg by Lakshipathy Balaji off left-arm paceman Zaheer Khan, before all-rounder Ramesh Powar seized the initiative for Mumbai with a timely 68-ball 57.

India, who have not played Test cricket since last year, host New Zealand in a two-match series starting next month.

Scores: Mumbai 297 (Sachin Tendulkar 94; Zaheer Khan 5-77) and 244 (Ramesh Powar 57, Tendulkar 50; Harbhajan Singh 4-79); Rest of India 202 (Powar 4-61) and 55-2.—Reuters