Ranji champions Vidarbha restricted Rest of India to 142 for 5, gaining an advantage as bad light led to an early close on Day 2 of their Irani Cup match on Thursday.
Starting the day at 280 for 5, Vidarbha
added 62 runs from 17.4 overs, losing five wickets to be all out for 342 in the morning session. They faced a total of 101.4 overs.
Overnight centurion Atharva Taide, who resumed on 118, added 25 more runs before being dismissed for 143.
In response, the Rest of India batters, barring opener Abhimanyu Easwaran (52) and captain Rajat Patidar (42 not out), struggled to progress, finishing at 142 for 5 in 53 overs, trailing Vidarbha by 200 runs. Manav Suthar (1 not out) was with Patidar when the umpires called early stumps due to poor light.
The rest of India managed 20 runs in the morning session, with Easwaran and Aryan Juyal unbeaten at lunch. In the post-lunch session, they scored 74 runs for the loss of two wickets. Easwaran and Juyal shared a 52-run opening stand before Juyal was dismissed for 23 off 63 balls by Parth Rekhade in the 20th over.
Yash Dhull, batting at number three, made 11 from 12 balls before becoming Harsh Dubey’s victim. At tea, the Rest of India were 94 for 2, trailing by 248 runs. They managed just 48 runs in the shortened final session as bad light led to early stumps.
Crucially, the Rest of India lost three key wickets—Easwaran (52), Ruturaj Gaikwad (9), and Ishan Kishan (1)—giving Vidarbha the upper hand. For Vidarbha, Parth Rekhade was the most successful bowler with figures of 2/24, while Harsh Dubey, Darshan Nalkande, and Yash Thakur each took a wicket.
Brief Scores:
Vidarbha 1st Innings: 280/5 in 84 overs (Atharva Taide 118 not out, Yash Rathod 91; Akash Deep 2/35, Manav Suthar 3/64).
Rest of India 1st Innings: 142 for 5 in 53 overs (Abhimanyu Easwaran 52, Rajat Patidar 42 not out; Parth Rekhade 2/24).
(With Agency Inputs)
