Ranji Trophy: Vidarbha on top against Mumbai

NAGPUR: A 10-over passage of second session at Jamtha Stadium yielded just 16 runs at the cost of three key Vidarbha wickets, including that of Karun Nair and Dhruv Shorey. After conceding a 113-run lead earlier on Day 3, Mumbai looked set to script a comeback, like they have often done this Ranji Trophy season.
Vidarbha were down at 56 for 4 in 21 overs. Having tasted blood, Shams Mulani and Tanush Kotian were getting enough purchase from the track, as the batters struggled to stay alive. Yash Rathod and Akshay Wadkar, though, played a 'khadoos' brand of cricket to give Mumbai a taste of their own medicine.
Skipper Wadkar blunted 102 balls for 31 while Rathod scored his second fifty (59;101b;4x4) of the match.
The two remained unbeaten to take Vidarbha to 147 for 4 in 53 overs by the end of Day Three. Having an overall lead of 260 runs, Vidarbha maintained their upper hand in the semifinal on Wednesday.
The hosts could have been in a more commanding position but for Mumbai opener Akash Anand's gritty knock of 106 (256b;11x4) earlier in the day. Anand in the company of Kotian (33;75b;4x4;1x6) and the tail added 82 runs in 32 overs in the first session. Wicketkeeper Wadkar dropped a regulation catch of Kotian - when
he was on six, and Mumbai were 190 for 7 in 60th over. It helped the visitors to narrow the deficit margin.
After posting his second First Class century, Anand, left with the tail, perished while going for quick runs. The opener almost carried his bat through and was the ninth wicket to fall after which Mumbai ended at 270.
Mumbai didn't take long to rattle Vidarbha in the second innings. Shardul Thakur brought one back into southpaw Atharva Taide (0) to trap the opener in front of the wicket on the second ball of the first over, prompting the umpires to take lunch. The second session saw Danish Malewar taking the attack to the Mumbai bowlers.
Brief Scores: Vidarbha 383 all out & 147 for 4 in 53 overs (Yash Rathod batting 59, Akshay Wadkar batting 31, Danish Malewar 29; Shams Mulani 2-50) lead Mumbai (overnight 188 for 7 in 59 overs) 270 all out in 92 overs (Akash Anand 106, Tanush Kotian 33, Shardul Thakur 37; Parth Rekhade 4-55) by 260 runs