Hanuma Vihari scored a superb unbeaten 180 runs in the second innings to bring Rest of India (ROI) back into the game on day 4 against Vidarbha at VCA Jamtha Stadium on Friday.
Resuming the penultimate day on 102 for 2, Vihari and Ajinkya Rahane (87) added 229 runs for the third wicket before Shreyas Iyer blasted an unbeaten 52-ball 61, studded with five fours and four sixes, to help ROI accumulate some quick runs. ROI were 374 for 3 in 107 overs, with a lead of 279, when Rahane brought the curtains down to their second innings.
Chasing 280 runs for successive Irani title, Vidarbha were 37 for 1 in 16 overs, still needing 243 runs, with Sanjay Ramaswamy and Atharwa Taide unbeaten on 17 and 16 respectively.
Earlier, Vihari and Rahane started from where they left on day 3. While Rahane was a bit more defensive in his approach, Vihari pounced on every bad delivery. The two batted for the entire first session and Vidarbha had to go for lunch without any success.
Defending a modest total, Ankit Rajpoot knocked over Fazal in the very first over to give ROI a fantastic start. Sanjay and Taide then ensured that there were no hiccups till the stumps were drawn on the fourth day.