Mumbai : Mumbai rode on unbeaten centuries from Akhil Herwadkar and Suryakumar Yadav to pile up 370 for 2 on day one of their Group B Ranji Trophy game against Gujarat at the Wankhede Stadium on Tuesday. Gujarat’s hopes of securing at least the first innings lead to enhance their hopes of advancing to the quarters took a beating as the hosts, surprisingly asked to bat first by visiting team captain Parthiv Patel, scored at more than four an over to grab the advantage. Left-handed opener Herwadkar remained unconquered at the end of the day with a patient knock of 143 off 257 balls, inclusive of 16 fours and a six. He was lucky to be let off twice by wicket keeper and rival captain Patel before he reached 40s.
Yadav, at the other end, stroked his way to 103 not out off 159 balls – studded with 3 sixes and 9 fours. The third wicket duo, who joined forces at the fall of one-down batsman Shreyas Iyer (75 off 69 balls with 10 fours and a six), had added 196 runs before stumps. Earlier, put in to bat the home team – already assured of a berth in the last eight – raced to 74 before losing opener Jay Bista, edging left arm R P Singh to ‘keeper Patel, for a breezy knock of 44 that included six hits to the fence.
The ever-aggressive Iyer and Herwadkar then came together to stitch a partnership of 100 runs before the former lost patience and his wicket. In trying to glide Rush Kalaria over the wicket keeper’s head he managed only an edge to Parthiv. To make things worse, the Gujarat captain let off Herwadkar when on 12, a difficult leg-side catch, and a regulation stumping when the left hander (39) rushed out to the first ball from left- arm spinner Axar Patel and got beaten. Taking full advantage of these reprieves, Herwadkar reached his half century in 101 balls. He was more aggressive later and reached his second ton of the season in 196 balls.
Brief scores
Mumbai 370 for 2 (A Herwadkar not out 143, J Bista 44, S Iyer 75, S Yadav not out 103).
RANJI RESULTS:
Paliwal’s ton helps Services to 282/5 against Tripura.
Vidarbha reach 284/6 after against Haryana.
Rayudu’s 70 helps Baroda reach 242-5 against UP.
Odisha all out for 151, Rajasthan struggling at 28/6.
Himachal take first-innings lead against Kerala.
Punjab in command after bowling out TN for 68.
Twin half-centuries to take MP to 261/9 against Andhra.
Bawne’s 87 takes Maharashtra to 212 against Karnataka.
Saurashtra grab first innings lead against J&K
Hyderabad bundle out for 145 against Jharkhand
Bengal struggle to reach 191/4 vs Assam
