The aching joints of the Puducherry players finally got some rest when Mumbai declared their first innings at 630-5 less than an hour after tea of Day Two on Monday. Mumbai toyed with the spineless Puducherry attack for 147 overs.
Siddhesh Lad (170, 285b, 19×4, 4×6) posted his highest first-class score and wicketkeeper Akash Anand (107 not out, 122b, 8×4) reached his third first-class century in nine matches.
Mumbai’s Akash Anand during his 107 not out against Puducherry at Wankhede on Monday. Pics/Atul Kamble
While Mumbai piled on the runs and agony, Puducherry had spread all nine fielders on the boundary, five on the off-side and four on the leg-side.
On the contrary, when Puducherry began their reply, Mumbai skipper Shardul Thakur (3-17) was all over them.
Skipper Shardul on fire
He struck twice in his first three deliveries to reduce the visitors to 0-2. Neyan Kangayan positioned himself to defend Thakur’s first ball, but the late movement beat his defence to knock the off-stump. Two balls later, Paras Ratnaparkhe was trapped leg before. When No. 4 Anand Bais took strike to the fourth ball, Thakur had four slips and two gullies to instil fear in the batter.
Thakur earned his third scalp when Bais edged behind in the fifth over and Puducherry were staring at an innings defeat at 8-3. Then, Tushar Deshpande struck in his first over, getting opener Ajay Rohera to nick it to slips. Puducherry finished on 43-4 at stumps, trailing by 587.
Earlier, the duo of wicketkeeper Anand and Thakur added the third century stand of the innings (110) after the overnight pair of Lad and Sarfaraz Khan (67, 113b, 6×4, 1×6) put on the highest stand of the innings, 160 for the fourth wicket. Thakur also scored a 32-ball 56 (3×4, 4×6) before retiring hurt with neck spasm.
Anand said after the day’s play: “It’s always special to score a hundred in a first-class game. I treat each game with equal importance and try to score a hundred whenever possible. Glad it came.”
Anand, 30, who usually bats at No. 6, said, “The number at which I bat, I am batting with one of the main batters or with the lower order. So, it is important for me to consolidate on whatever is built.”
Lad’s highest score
Mumbai posted their biggest total of the season and third 600-plus score since 2024-25. Each time, the 33-year-old Lad scored a century. On Monday, Lad went past his previous highest of 169 not out against Odisha at the BKC ground last season. After reaching his personal best, Lad sliced Sabhey Chadha to third man Bais’s hands.
Brief scores
Mumbai 630-5d (S Lad 170, A Anand 107*, A Herwadkar 86, M Khan 84, S Thakur 56; S Chadha 2-146) vs Puducherry 43-4 (A Rohera 14; S Thakur 3-17)