In response to Rest of India’s first innings total of 320, Vidarbha scored 245/6 at stumps on Day-2 of the ZR Irani Cup cricket match at VCA Stadium, Jamtha on Wednesday. At stumps Vidarbha were still trailing by 85 runs. Opener Sanjay Ramaswamy (65) and Ganesh Satish (48) provided some consolidation in the first session, but it was Akshay Wadkar’ (50) which rescued the hosts.
Earlier, skipper Faiz Fazal and Sanjay Ramaswamy made a careful start. After blunting the new ball attack, the duo opened up and picked up odd boundaries to bring fifty for Vidarbha. However, Fazal, got out in a dramatic style after scoring 27 off 65 balls with the help of five boundaries. He gloved a good-length delivery from Krishnappa Gowtham and keeper Ishan Kishan made no mistake in grabbing it.
Both made a loud appeal but umpire was unmoved. Just when the appeal died up, he raised his finger, leaving Faiz surprised. This wicket brought Atharva Taide (15 off 34 , 2×4) on crease. However, an intelligent bowling change from Ajinkya Rahane cut short his stay at crease.
A leg-break from Rahul Chahar deceived Taide, who wanted to sweep a back of a length delivery but missed. Ball hits him on line of off-stump and umpire made no error in judging him LBW. Â Ganesh Satish and Sanjay then consolidated Vidarbha innings and ensured that the hosts did not lose any wicket till lunch.
After break, Ramaswamy brought his ninth first-class half-century in the 48th over. The duo added 62 runs for the third wicket. Ramaswamy could not capitalise on this reprieve and threw his wicket away in the very next over. Ramaswamy’s composed knock of 65 came off 166 deliveries and also included nine boundaries. As the day progressed, RoI spinners started getting turn. Chahar and Jadeja made the life difficult for the Vidarbha batsmen. In the 69th over, Satish could not read an arm ball from Jadeja and was trapped LBW just before tea for 48 (105 balls, 4X4, 1X6).
