Vidarbha solidified its position in the Irani Cup fixture, establishing a substantial first-innings lead over Rest of India, which they then further extended to 224 runs by the close of play on the third day in Nagpur.
The day commenced with Rest of India at 142 for 5, in pursuit of Vidarbha`s 342, with captain Rajat Patidar and Manav Suthar at the crease. Vidarbha`s fast bowler Aditya Thakare made an immediate impact with the very first ball of the day, dismissing Suthar lbw after a successful review of the umpire`s not-out call.
Yash Thakur then claimed the next two wickets, bowling Saransh Jain with a yorker and having Akash Deep caught at cover. Patidar, who had resumed his innings on 42, reached 66 runs, including ten boundaries, before he became the penultimate wicket to fall – caught off fast bowler Harsh Dubey while attempting to clear the long-off boundary.
Thakur took the final wicket, bringing Rest of India`s innings to an end at 214 runs, finishing with impressive figures of 4 for 66 and securing Vidarbha a decisive first-innings lead of 128 runs.
In their second innings, Vidarbha`s openers, Atharva Taide and Aman Mokhade, built a 42-run partnership for the first wicket before Taide was caught out at deep mid-wicket off Suthar. Mokhade departed for 37 in the 24th over, caught behind trying to hook Gurnoor Brar. From 64 for 2, Dhruv Shorey and Danish Malewar then carefully guided Vidarbha to 96 runs by stumps, establishing an overall lead of 224 runs with eight wickets still in hand.
