Vidarbha kept Rest of India's star-studded line-up in check on day two of the Irani Cup in Nagpur.
The defending Ranji Trohy champions started the second day at 280-5, but were bowled out after adding only another 62 runs. Atharva Taide, batting overnight on 118*, was bowled by Saransh Jain on 143. For Rest of India, Manav Suthar (3-74) and Akash Deep (3-51) were the pick of the bowlers.
Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ishan Kishan fail after Abhimanyu Easwaran's fifty
They started well with the bat, with Abhimanyu Easwaran and Aryan Juyal (23) putting up a 52-run opening stand before Juyal was trapped in front by Darshan Nalkande. Former India U19 World Cup winning captain Yash Dhull perished for 11 but Easwaran hung around, registering his 32nd half-century in first-class cricket.
However, soon after getting to the landmark, he was dismissed lbw by Parth Rekhade at the team score of 105. That wicket marked the start of a mini-collapse as Rest of India slipped to 124-5. Ruturaj Gaikwad, batting at No.5 was dismissed for nine by Yash Thakur, hitting a short and wide ball straight to deep point. Ishan Kishan, batting at six, followed soon, also trapped lbw by Rekhade for just one.
Captain Rajat Patidar and Suthar then saw off the last nine overs of the day without any further hiccups. Patidar remained unbeaten on 42, while Suthar played 17 balls for one run.
One-off Match, Vidarbha vs Rest of India
vs
- Ball by ball Over
Rest of India will start day three trailing Vidarbha by exactly 200 runs. Their hopes will rest on Patidar, who has been in phenomenal form this season, having led Central Zone to the Duleep Trophy title with the help of two hundreds and two fifties.
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