Surya, Lad rescue Mumbai
Middleorder batsmen share 129run stand for fourth wicket to help team reach 278/5
NEW DELHI: Suryakumar Yadav (83) and Siddhesh Lad (80 batted) added 129 runs for the fourth wicket to help Mumbai score 278 runs for five wickets against Railways on the first day of their Ranji Trophy match at the Karnail Singh Stadium on Thursday. The two combined when the visitors were in a spot of bother at 98 for three thanks to impressive bowling by Anureet Singh, who took two of the first three wickets. Anureet finished with three for 55, eventually accounting for Suryakumar also late in the day. Avinash Yadav picked two for 68.
Electing to bat after winning the toss, Mumbai began well with openers Jay Bista and Akhil Herwadkar adding 48 in 10.1 overs. Bista was the more aggressive while Herwadkar was content in seeing off the new ball. Herwadkar made nine off 27 balls before Anureet had him caught behind by skipper and wicketkeeper Mahesh Rawat.
Soon Bista was out off Anureet with the score on 63. He fell for 47 (54 balls) and hit nine boundaries in the process.
Ashay Sardesai, a 20-year-old, who was making his debut for Mumbai stuck around for a while before he was removed, bowled by left-arm spinner Avinash Yadav for 19 (44 balls). The youngster hit three boundaries in his knock. Lad, who wore a mask due to the rising pollution levels in the Capital, then joined Suryakumar and the two experienced hands started the rebuilding process. While Suryakumar hit five fours and a six, Lad hit 11 fours.
LAD SR. ASSIGNED TO PLOT SON’S DISMISSAL
It can be difficult for a father to ‘plot‘ his son’s dismissal but Railways’ observer Dinesh Lad has been handed the unenviable task — to devise a strategy for his in-form son Siddhesh — who plays for Mumbai. Lad was on the job on the opening day of the Ranji Trophy encounter between the two teams. Better known as Rohit Sharma’s childhood coach, Lad is a former Western Railway cricketer, who has been summoned by his employers to set the senior team’s house in order.
“I was only told yesterday that I would be the Railways observer for this season. I haven’t yet received any appointment letter so I will only meet the team after the end of the day’s play,” Lad said while watching the proceedings from the stands.
So has he offered any tips to Railways bowlers on how to dismiss Siddhesh, and he laughed.
“It’s a very tricky situation for a father. I have to think about my team and at the same time as a father, I don’t want my son to fail,” Lad said as Siddhesh stepped out to hit a classical on-drive off a spinner.
But this is not the first time that the father and son find themselves in opposite sides.
“During a Times Shield game, I was coaching Western Railways while Siddhesh was playing for Indian Oil Corporation. So this is not the first time,” Lad said.
If Siddhesh is unbeaten at the end of the day, what will be his advice? “When a batsman is in good form, you have to be patient and wait for his mistake.” 48, Sudip Chatterjee 43) v Himachal Pradesh
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