As the curtains drew on Day 4 of the prestigious Irani Cup clash, Vidarbha, the reigning Ranji Trophy champions, found themselves firmly in the driver`s seat, poised to clinch a resounding victory. Despite a spirited morning spell from Rest of India`s fast bowler Anshul Kamboj, who bagged a crucial four-wicket haul, Vidarbha`s formidable lead proved insurmountable, leaving the challengers facing an uphill battle on the final day.
A Morning Spark for Rest of India
The day began with a glimmer of hope for Rest of India. Vidarbha, resuming their second innings at a comfortable 96 for 2, were looking to extend their already significant lead. However, the early Saturday morning belonged to Anshul Kamboj. With a display of disciplined fast bowling, Kamboj ripped through Vidarbha`s top order, sending both overnight batters, Danish Malewar and Dhruv Shorey, back to the pavilion. Yash Rathod soon followed, victims of Kamboj`s relentless line and length. This sudden collapse in the first hour of play breathed life into Rest of India`s challenge, threatening to cap Vidarbha`s second innings at a manageable total.
Vidarbha`s Resilient Stand Extends Lead
Yet, champions are not easily rattled. As Kamboj continued his impressive spell, earning him figures of 4 for 34, Vidarbha`s middle-order batters, Harsh Dubey and Akshay Wadkar, showed admirable resolve. They managed to stem the flow of wickets and slowly but surely, added valuable runs to the scoreboard. Dubey`s 29 and Wadkar`s 36, though not monumental individual scores, were critical in pushing Vidarbha`s total to a more formidable 232. Their defiance ensured that despite the early setbacks and further wickets claimed by Gurnoor Brar and Saransh Jain, the lead accumulated over the first three days remained substantial, setting Rest of India a daunting target of 362 for victory.
The Chase Begins: A Faltering Start for Rest of India
With only about an hour of play left on Day 4, Rest of India began their pursuit of the challenging target. The pressure was palpable, and the opening batters, Abhimanyu Easwaran and Aaryan Juyal, had the unenviable task of seeing off Vidarbha`s hungry bowlers. Unfortunately for Rest of India, the task proved too great. In quick succession, both openers fell, leaving their side reeling at 30 for 2 at the close of play. These crucial breakthroughs, just before stumps, served as a stark reminder of Vidarbha`s dominance and significantly dampened any lingering hopes Rest of India might have harbored of pulling off an improbable chase.
Day 5: A Foregone Conclusion?
As the teams retired for the night, the arithmetic was clear: Rest of India still needed a colossal 331 runs for victory with only eight wickets in hand. Vidarbha, on the other hand, required just eight more dismissals to secure the Irani Cup. While cricket, known for its glorious uncertainties, always holds the possibility of a miraculous turnaround, the current scenario paints a grim picture for Rest of India. Barring an extraordinary batting effort or an unprecedented collapse from Vidarbha, the champions appear destined to add another feather to their cap, reaffirming their status as a powerhouse in Indian domestic cricket.
Brief Scores:
Vidarbha: 342 & 232 (Aman Mokhade 37, Akshay Wadkar 36; Anshul Kamboj 4-34, Gurnoor Brar 2-31)
Rest of India: 214 (Rajat Patidar 66, Abhimanyu Easwaran 52; Yash Thakur 4-66) & 30/2
Vidarbha lead Rest of India by 330 runs.
