Riding on stand-in skipper Siddhesh Lad’s unbeaten century (102 not out, 12×4), Mumbai took a 45-run first innings lead against Delhi on Day Two of their Elite Group ‘D’ Ranji Trophy match at the MCA-BKC ground on Friday. In reply to Delhi’s 221 all out, the hosts were at 266-5 at stumps.
Mumbai’s top run-getter this season (with 736 runs so far), Lad’s fifth century of the season came with a patient approach. After overnight unbeaten batsman Akhil Herwadkar’s (12) departure at 11.11 am, Lad came to the crease with the scoreboard reading 44-3 in the 22nd over and batted till stumps (4.50 pm) — a four-and-a-half-hour-plus stay at the wicket.
Musheer Khan scores 57
Batting at No. 5, he shared a 63-run stand with No. 4 batter Musheer Khan (57, 7×4) followed by an unbeaten 130-run sixth-wicket partnership with Suved Parkar (53 not out, 4×4, 2×6).
“The wicket for this match is a bit different. It’s helping the seamers, so it was very important that I spend as much time as I can on this wicket. It was my responsibility as captain and also being the man-in-form, to ensure I played out the good spells, first against the fast bowlers and then against the spinners,” Lad said after day’s play.
In the process, Lad equalled the Mumbai record of scoring five first-class centuries in one season. Batting legend Sachin Tendulkar scored five centuries in the 1994-95 Ranji season, while Rusi Modi had a similar performance in 1944-45. Mumbai-born Amol Muzumdar also had five centuries in 2012-13, but while playing for Andhra. The record for most centuries in one season belongs to VVS Laxman, who scored eight tons in 1999-2000.
Lad, 33, who has scored over 5400 runs in 80 first-class games, wants to keep up the good work. “My first goal is to win the Ranji Trophy for Mumbai. Ever since I returned after playing for another state [Goa in 2022-23], the Mumbai Cricket Association has shown faith in me, so I just want to keep doing well,” he said.
Thakur nears comeback
Meanwhile, Test pacer and Mumbai skipper Shardul Thakur, who suffered a calf injury during the Vijay Hazare Trophy in Jaipur last month, is likely to make a comeback to the Mumbai team for their Ranji Trophy quarter-final at the MCA-BKC ground from February 6. He was seen doing strength training drills at the MCA-BKC ground on Friday.
Five
No. of centuries by Siddhesh Lad this season, joint-most by a Mumbai batter in a single first-class season
105.14
Siddhesh Lad’s average in the ongoing Ranji season; the stand-in Mumbai skipper has scored 736 runs in 7 games
Brief scores
Delhi 221 all out vs Mumbai 266-5 (S Lad 102*, M Khan 57, S Parkar 53*; D Mehra 2-38, M Grewal 2-59)
