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Vidarbha set Rest of India a 361-run target in the Irani Cup final, reduced them to 30/2 before rain halted play, with Akshay Wadkar and Anshul Kamboj starring for their teams.
Irani Cup: Vidarbha tighten grip as Rest of India face uphill chase (PTI)
Vidarbha maintained a firm grip on the Irani Cup final, setting Rest of India a challenging target of 361 runs before reducing them to 30 for two in 12 overs, as rain led to an early end on the fourth day, Saturday.
Starting the day at 96 for two, the Ranji Trophy champions were all out for 232 in 94.1 overs. However, a useful first-innings lead of 128 runs provided the hosts with a significant buffer to put RoI on the defensive.
Seamer Anshul Kamboj delivered a superb three-wicket burst in successive overs, shaking Vidarbha early on. He dismissed overnight batter Danish Malewar (16) with the second ball of the day, then took out Yash Rathod (five) in his next over and trapped opener Dhruv Shorey (27) lbw, reducing Vidarbha to 105/5 just five overs into the fourth morning.
Captain Akshay Wadkar (36 off 125 balls) held the innings together with determined resistance, adding 39 runs with Harsh Dubey (29) and later 35 with Darshan Nalkande (35), ensuring Vidarbha’s innings did not collapse entirely.
Despite Wadkar’s efforts, wickets continued to fall at the other end, with Gurnoor Brar (2/41), Saransh Jain (2/52), and Manav Suthar (2/82) supporting Kamboj (4/34) to bowl Vidarbha out.
Chasing a challenging target on a deteriorating pitch and under overcast conditions, Rest of India faced an uphill task. Openers Abhimanyu Easwaran and Aryan Juyal started briskly, with Easwaran hitting consecutive boundaries and Juyal also finding the fence, accumulating 13 runs in the opening over off Dubey.
However, their promising start was short-lived. Aditya Thakare bowled Juyal (six) with the final ball of the fourth over, and Abhimanyu Easwaran (17 off 17 balls) was trapped lbw by Dubey with the first delivery of the seventh over.
At 24/2, RoI were struggling before rain intervened. At stumps, Ishan Kishan (5 not out off 18) and captain Rajat Patidar (2 not out off 22) were fighting to keep the chase alive, with Thakare (1/8 in five overs) and Dubey (1/20 in six) maintaining tight control.
With 331 more runs needed and only eight wickets in hand, Rest of India will require something extraordinary on the final day to prevent Vidarbha from securing their third Irani Cup title.
Brief Scores:
Vidarbha: 342 and 232; 94.1 overs (Aman Mokhade 37, Akshay Wadkar 36, Darshan Nalkande 35; Anshul Kamboj 4/34, Gurnoor Brar 2/41, Saransh Jain 2/52, Manav Suthar 2/82).
Rest of India: 214 and 30/2; 12 overs (Ishan Kishan 5 batting, Rajat Patidar 2 batting). Target: 361 runs.
(With inputs from Agencies)
Ritayan Basu, Senior Sub-Editor, Sports at News18.com. Has been covering domestic and and international football for nearly a decade. Has played and covered badminton. Ocassionally writes cricket content, havin…Read More
Ritayan Basu, Senior Sub-Editor, Sports at News18.com. Has been covering domestic and and international football for nearly a decade. Has played and covered badminton. Ocassionally writes cricket content, havin… Read More
Nagpur, India, India
October 04, 2025, 20:44 IST
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