Ahead of a must-win encounter in the Ranji Trophy Elite Group 'A', Vidarbha faced a significant setback with in-form batsman Yash Rathod joining Dhruv Shorey on the injured list. However, the defending champions, under the leadership of skipper Harsh Dubey, made a resolute start against Uttar Pradesh on Thursday at the Jamtha Stadium in Nagpur.
Dubey's Career-Best Bowling Figures Derail Uttar Pradesh
Harsh Dubey stepped up when his team needed him the most, delivering his best bowling performance of the season. The left-arm spinner claimed a magnificent six-wicket haul, finishing with figures of 6 for 63, to dismantle the Uttar Pradesh batting lineup. This remarkable spell is his finest in the four Ranji matches played this season, showcasing his pivotal role in Vidarbha's campaign.
Uttar Pradesh's Batting Struggles
Opting to bat first, Uttar Pradesh's decision backfired as their batting order crumbled under pressure. Apart from Dhruv Jurel, who played a valiant knock of 96 runs off 122 balls, including 11 boundaries, none of the other batters could mount a substantial resistance against Vidarbha's disciplined attack.
The collapse began early when Nachiket Bhute struck in the eighth over, cleaning up Madhav Kaushik with the score at 14. From there, Dubey took charge, wreaking havoc on the top order by claiming three quick wickets. He first dismantled the stumps of opener Abhishek Goswami, then dismissed captain Aryan Juyal with a sharp catch by substitute Atharva Taide, and later induced an edge from Aaditya Sharam, which was neatly held by wicketkeeper Rohit Binkar.
Key Partnerships and Wickets
A brief 43-run partnership between Dhruv Jurel and Siddharth Yadav offered some respite, but it was broken by Praful Hinge. Parth Rekhade further dented Uttar Pradesh's hopes by having Shivam Sharma caught behind, reducing them to 109 for 6.
With his team in dire straits, Jurel found support in Shivam Mavi, and the duo launched a counter-attack, adding 92 runs in just 106 balls. However, the introduction of off-spinner Yash Kadam proved decisive as he removed Mavi for 47 in his first over. Dubey then returned to deny Jurel a well-deserved century and swiftly wrapped up the tail, bundling out Uttar Pradesh for 237 in 68.5 overs.
Vidarbha's Steady Start with the Bat
In response, Vidarbha's openers Aman Mokhade and Satyam Bhoyar displayed commendable resilience, remaining unbeaten at stumps. They negotiated 12 overs safely, taking the score to 33 without loss. Mokhade contributed 19 runs off 39 balls, while Bhoyar added 13 off 34 deliveries.
Challenges Ahead for Vidarbha
With key batsmen Yash Rathod and Dhruv Shorey sidelined due to injuries, the onus now falls on the openers, along with middle-order batsmen like Danish Malewar and R Samarth, to build a substantial first-innings total. Facing a must-win situation, Vidarbha will be keen to avoid chasing a large target in the fourth innings, particularly on a dry pitch that could favor spinners as the match progresses.
Brief Scores: Uttar Pradesh: 237 all out in 68.5 overs (Dhruv Jurel 96, Shivam Mavi 47; Harsh Dubey 6-63, Nachiket Bhute 1-21, Yash Kadam 1-11, Praful Hinge 1-45, Parth Rekhade 1-60) lead Vidarbha: 33 for no loss in 12 overs (Aman Mokhade batting 19, Satyam Bhoyar batting 13) by 204 runs.
