Mumbai: Ambati Rayudu crossed 5,000 first class runs during the course of his 118 against Mumbai in the Irani Cup match on Saturday. The 27-year-old now has 14 centuries and 27 half-centuries to his name, which makes for a dismal conversion rate. Speaking after his sapping knock at the Wankhede Stadium, the young middle-order batsman admitted as much.Ambati Rayudu (File Photo)

"I am very disappointed to have scored only 14 centuries in 5,000 runs. Hopefully the ratio will go up in the second half of my career," he said.

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Rayudu, who recently switched to Baroda from Hyderabad, said more than the move it was his approach to batting that had seen him turn in a consistent past season. He was also pleased to finally get to three figures after failing to convert a fifty in the first innings, especially since the effort came right before Sunday's crucial selection meeting.

"I wanted to keep on batting and get more runs. I don't know about the selection (for the Test series against Australia). I am just happy with my performance in my first Irani Trophy game."

Rayudu dominated a 140-run partnership with Manoj Tiwary for the fourth wicket. Such was the abysmal pace of play that even Mumbai appeared to lose all interest in going for wickets, and threw their docile spinners into the mix.

"There was help for the medium pacers early on. They were getting movement in the air because of the moisture, but the conditions improved for batting as the day went on. Maybe that's why they brought on the spinners," Rayudu said.

Mumbai seamer Dhawal Kulkarni, however, had a different take on things.

"We used the spinners because we were looking to curb the scoring," he said, "The wicket was flat, so there was nothing in it for fast bowlers after the initial stages."