Ranji Trophy: Akhil Herwadkar misses double ton as Mumbai pile up huge total vs Gujarat

Mumbai: Left-handed opener Akhil Herwadkar missed out on a maiden double century by eight runs after a marathon stay, as Mumbai amassed an imposing first innings total of 531 before reducing Gujarat to 102 for three on day two of their four-day Group B Ranji Trophy match here today.

Herwadkar occupied the crease for three minutes under eight and a half hours during his 326-ball 192 that included two sixes and 22 fours. He departed 20 minutes after lunch, having commenced at his overnight 143 in a team score of 370 for two.

The opener, who batted patiently, was bowled by Priyank Panchal. He lost his overnight third wicket partner Suryakumar Yadav early in the morning after the latter added just one run to his overnight 103.

Mumbai lost wickets at regular intervals thereafter and were all out half an hour before tea.

In reply to Mumbai's huge first innings total, the visitors had a decent start with openers Asad Pathan and Panchal (36) putting on 41 runs before losing three wickets for 12 runs in 33 balls, two of them claimed by Mumbai's pace spearhead Shardul Thakur in the space of six balls spread over two overs.

The first blood was drawn by Shardul's new ball partner Balwinder Sandhu who sent back Pathan when the left hander poked at a ball that moved away and was caught behind.

Thakur packed off Panchal with a short ball that the latter tried to hook half heartedly to feather a catch to wicketkeeper and captain Aditya Tare and then had Manpreet Juneja edging to the slip cordon to leave Gujarat at 53 for 3.

The medium pacer could have grabbed his third wicket in as many overs had he accepted a low return catch to his left of new batsman Bhargav Merai, who survived to remain unbeaten on 41 off 66 balls with six hits to the fence.

Thakur bowled 10 overs at a stretch, giving away 15 runs for two wickets and came back late in the day to bowl two more overs without much success.

Brief scores:

Mumbai 1st innings: 531 (A Herwadkar 192, S Yadav 104, S Iyer 75; R P Singh 2/74, R Kalaria 2/96, A Patel 3/99).

Gujarat 102 for 3 (B Merai not out 41, R Bhatt not out 13; S Thakur 2/21).