Skipper Suryakumar Yadav struck a superb century, while young opener Akhil Herwadkar missed his ton by just three runs as Mumbai dominated Madhya Pradesh on day one of the four-day Ranji Trophy match at Wankhede Stadium
One of Mumbai’s biggest concerns — stitching together a good opening partnership — finally seems to be over with Aditya Tare and Akhil Herwadkar providing just the kind of start the 40-time champions have been desperately looking for in this Ranji Trophy season.
On Monday, in Mumbai’s fifth league match, Tare (37) and Herwadkar (97) put on 93, and thereafter skipper Suryakumar Yadav dominated the show with a power-packed 145-ball 135 as the hosts posted 375 for four in 87 overs, scoring at nearly 4.5 runs per over, on Day One against Madhya Pradesh at the Wankhede Stadium.
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Mumbai skipper Suryakumar Yadav celebrates his century during Ranji Trophy match against Madhya Pradesh at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Monday. PTI
Mumbai’s promising batting stars Siddhesh Lad and Sarfaraz Khan were batting on 69 and 20 respectively at stumps.
MP had a chance to claw back into the game with two quick dismissals — Tare (caught at slip) and last match centurion Shreyas Iyer (4), but Yadav and Herwadkar took that opportunity away. Yadav and the southpaw stitched a 117-ball 104 runs third-wicket partnership making the most of MP’s toothless attack.
The 20-year-old Herwadkar looked in a hurry to get to his maiden first-class ton. He successfully stepped out twice, smashing consecutive fours through midwicket. However, the third time he stepped out to reach the three-figure mark, left-arm spinner Ankit Sharma beat him in the flight and got him stumped by Naman Ojha.
In the course of Yadav's sixth ton in first-class cricket and second of the season, the skipper took full advantage of a pedestrian MP bowling attack,
The only batsman to fail was no 3 Shreyas Iyer who came into the game after scoring a brilliant century against Bengal at Kolkata as the home batsmen made merry against a toothless attack after being asked to bat first.
After the dismissals in quick succession of Tare, caught in the slip cordon, and Iyer - caught at covers, Herwadkar got involved in a breezy third wicket stand of 104 in 117 balls with his captain who struck 22 fours and a pulled six in his 215-minute stay.
For MP, Puneet Datey claimed 2 for 62, his wickets being those of Tare and Iyer in the space of six balls. Left arm spinner Ankit Sharma (1 for 41) and Harpreet Singh (1 for 21) got the other two wickets that fell.
Brief scores: Mumbai 375 for 4 (A Tare 37, A Herwadkar 97, S Yadav 135, S Lad batting 69, S Khan batting 20; P Datey 2 for 62) v Madhya Pradesh.
(with inputs from Agencies)
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