Day 4 round-up: Hanuma Vihari scripted history by becoming the first player to score a hat-trick of hundreds in the Irani Cup, helping Rest of India rally and set Vidarbha a tricky 280-run target in Nagpur on Friday. Besides Vihari’s 180, India’s Test vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane made 87 and Shreyas Iyer raced to a 52-ball 61, helping Rest of India to declare their second innings at 374 for three, a day after conceding a big first-innings lead. Needing 280 for an outright win, Ranji champions Vidarbha were 37 for one at close of play, still 243 runs shy of the target with nine wickets in hand.
Follow live updates from the final day of the Irani Cup here –
Satish pounces on a full toss
Satish plays a beautiful drive through cover and sends the ball to the boundary. Fantastic start for Vidarbha after Lunch! They need 134 more runs to win.
Vidarbha take Lunch at 141/2
Atharwa Taide (71*) and Ganesh Satish (13*) take Vidarbha to 141/2 at Lunch. They need 139 more runs to win. The wicket isn’t helping the bowlers much and it looks like Vidarbha will surely win the match, either on first innings lead or by chasing down the target.
Chahar dismisses Raghunath
Wicket for Rest of India! Chahar strikes Raghunath’s pads and traps him LBW. Raghunath goes for a gritty 42. Can Rest of India capitalise on this wicket or will Vidarbha survive till the end of day’s play? They need 161 more runs to win.
Raghunath and Taide string 100-run stand
Vidarbha have got off to the perfect start on Day 5. Raghunath and Taide have stuck in and strung a hundred-run partnership. With Taide bringing up his own fifty, Vidarbha move to 104/1. They need 176 more runs to win.
Vidarbha bat cautiously
Raghunath and Taide are batting very cautiously. They don’t have to worry about chasing down the target since they can win the match on first innings lead. Vidarbha: 74/1, need 206 more runs to win.
Raghunath and Taide resume Vidarbha’s innings
Raghunath and Taide have strung a 38-run partnership so far. They will look to exploit the conditions and bat as long as possible. The best time to bat in this match has been the first session.
Hello and welcome
A very warm welcome to the live blog of the day 5 of the Irani Cup match between Vidarbha and Rest of India. Vidarbha need 243 runs to win, while the Rest of India will be looking to take nine wickets.
Source: HindustanTimes