Nagpur: Vidarbha set Odisha a challenging target of 345 in their Ranji Trophy Elite Group A clash at VCA Stadium in Jamtha here.
Eyeing their first victory of the season, Odisha began their chase on an encouraging note to reach 44 without loss at stumps on Monday. Openers Swastik Samal (batting 25) and Gourav Choudhary (batting 17) showed good intent to give their fans hope of a stunning upset against the defending Ranji winners and Irani Cup champions Vidarbha.
With a day’s play left in the game, Odisha require 301 more runs, while Vidarbha need 10 wickets.
On a fast-moving day, when 300 runs were scored, Odisha were bowled out in their first innings for 160 after resuming this morning on 122/6. Allrounder Sambit Baral scored 27 of the 38 runs added by Odisha on Day 3.
Armed with a lead of 126 runs, Vidarbha began their second innings cautiously and lost the wicket of Atharva Taide with 16 runs on the board.
First-innings centurion Dhruv Shorey joined Aman Mokhade, and the duo settle down and went on to dominate the Odisha attack in a 199-run partnership for the second wicket.
The 33-year-old Shorey, a former Delhi player, notched up his second century of the match, compiling a solid 101 off 161 balls, with 8 boundaries. It was his 14th first-class hundred.
Mokhade remained unbeaten on 101, his third first-class century, as Vidarbha declared at 218/2 to give Odisha just under an hour to try and pick up some wickets.
The Odisha openers did well to see off the home team’s threat, at least for the time being.
BRIEF SCORES
Vidarbha first innings: 286
Odisha first innings: 160 (Subhranshu Senapati 41, Sambit Baral 29; Gaurav Farde 4/28, Parth Rekhade 3/31).
Vidarbha second innings: 218/2 declared (Aman Mokhade 101 not out, Dhruv Shorey 101; Badal Biswal 2/83).
Odisha second innings: 44/0 (Swastik Samal batting 25, Gourav Choudhary batting 17).
Match to continue on fourth & final day.