The master batsman followed his first-innings 94 with an impressive 50 to keep alive national champions Mumbai's hopes of winning the Irani Cup against Test captain Saurav Ganguly's formidable Rest of India squad.

Needing 340 to win, the Rest were 55-2 in their second innings at stumps on the third day of the five-day game.

Mumbai were struggling at 15-2 against a near-Test attack before Tendulkar steadied the innings with a 66-run stand for the third wicket with opener Vinayak Mane (36).

Tendulkar hit five fours in a 109-ball knock before being caught flicking left-arm seamer Zaheer Khan.

Off-spinner Ramesh Powar, who grabbed four wickets in the first innings, also batted well as he smashed a 68-ball 57 with one six and five fours to build on Tendulkar's effort.

Test off-spinner Harbhajan Singh bagged 4-79 off 25 overs, but failed to stop the Tendulkar-inspired Mumbai from consolidating their position.

New Zealand are due to arrive in India next week for two Tests and a triangular one-day series also involving world champions Australia.

India tour Australia later this year for four Test matches and a tri-series also featuring Zimbabwe.