By Admin 
Seven years ago, Akhil Herwadkar featured in his last Ranji Trophy fixture for Mumbai. While he had a forgettable outing against Gujarat in that game, with scores of 0 and 10, the batter later moved to Chhattisgarh for better opportunities.
But on Sunday, as Herwadkar turned up for Mumbai, replacing Ajinkya Rahane, he made his homecoming special with a gritty 86 off 188 deliveries to guide Mumbai to 317 for three against Pondicherry in a Group-D fixture at the Wankhede Stadium.
While the 31-year-old made the most of two reprieves and brought up his 11th First Class fifty, Musheer Khan continued his fine form with a 102-ball-84 and forged a 119-run partnership with Herwadkar for the second wicket. Later, Siddhesh Lad came up with another classy unbeaten 80 (132b, 9×4, 1×6) to put Mumbai in the driver’s seat.
On a surface that had a tinge of green, Pondicherry’s decision to field backfired as openers Musheer and Ayush Mhatre made the most of erratic bowling and added 54 runs in 11 overs before the latter was caught behind off Abin Mathew.
Expectations were high from Pondicherry as some of its players featured in club cricket in Mumbai, but they couldn’t execute the plans, and as the surface eased out, Musheer and Herwadkar flexed muscles.
Coming off a ton against Himachal Pradesh, Musheer cut and drove at will. Herwadkar, however, was lucky. On 47, Aman Khan had him caught at deep fine-leg by Sabhey Chadha, but the bowler was found to have overstepped.
Both looked on course for hundreds before Musheer was caught at first slip, trying to cut one off Chadha. As the momentum broke, Herwadkar, too, missed out on a ton, after being trapped leg-before by Udeshi.
However, with Lad and Sarfaraz Khan holding firm and adding 80 runs for the fourth wicket, there was no further damage caused.
The scores: Mumbai — 1st innings: Ayush Mhatre c Sidhaant b Mathew 35, Musheer Khan c Ratnaparkhe b Chadha 84, Akhil Herwadkar lbw b Udeshi 86, Siddhesh Lad (batting) 80, Sarfaraz Khan (batting) 29; Extras (lb-1, nb-2) 3; Total (for three wkts. in 84 overs): 317.
Fall of wickets: 1-54, 2-173, 3-237.
Pondicherry bowling: Mathew 15-2-63-1, Chadha 15-2-65-1, Udeshi 24-3-77-1, Aman 8-1-46-0, Jayant 22-0-65-0.