Vidarbha's Missed Opportunities Hand Uttar Pradesh Advantage in Tense Ranji Encounter
In a day of dramatic twists and turns at the Jamtha Stadium in Nagpur, the Vidarbha cricket team twice let slip the initiative after building positions of strength, allowing Uttar Pradesh to finish Day 2 with a slender advantage in their Ranji Trophy Elite Group 'A' match. The fluctuating fortunes saw Uttar Pradesh end the day with their nose slightly ahead, setting up an intriguing contest for the remaining days.
Early Collapse and Spirited Fightback Define the Day
The day began with Vidarbha staring down the barrel as Uttar Pradesh pacer Shivam Mavi breathed fire with the ball. Resuming on their overnight score of 33 for no loss, Vidarbha's batting lineup crumbled under pressure, collapsing to 103 for 6 in just 37 overs by the end of the first session. Mavi was the chief destroyer, claiming four of those wickets on his way to a magnificent seven-wicket haul, putting Vidarbha firmly on the back foot.
Just when all seemed lost, Danish Malewar and Nachiket Bhute launched a stunning counter-offensive to resurrect Vidarbha's innings. Malewar, playing a brilliant knock of 80 runs off 117 balls, including 10 fours and a six, combined with Bhute's aggressive 63 off 85 balls, featuring 4 fours and 3 sixes, to bring their team back into contention. Their partnership not only steadied the ship but also put Vidarbha in sight of a crucial first-innings lead.
Promising Partnership Falters at the Crucial Juncture
Post-lunch, Malewar and Bhute decided to abandon their cautious approach, taking the attack to the Uttar Pradesh bowlers. Shots flowed freely all around the ground, toppling the bowlers' dominance as the duo added 118 runs in just about 21 overs during the second session. This phase saw Malewar hit seven of his ten boundaries and a six, while Bhute contributed with four boundaries and three sixes, electrifying the stadium with their aggressive strokeplay.
At 221 for 6, it appeared Vidarbha was poised to gain a handy lead. However, the momentum shifted once again as Malewar, who had promised himself last season to convert 70s and 80s into big hundreds, fell to a loose drive that landed in the hands of the short cover fielder. His dismissal, though after a brilliant innings, left much more on the table. Soon after, Bhute was run out, and Vidarbha's innings folded at 237 all out in 63 overs, matching Uttar Pradesh's first-innings total exactly.
Uttar Pradesh's Steady Response Seals the Day's Edge
At the start of the last session, Vidarbha's bowlers struck early blows, reducing Uttar Pradesh to 17 for 2 in 8 overs. Yash Thakur trapped Abhishek Goswami lbw with the first ball of the innings, while Bhute removed the other opener, Madhav Kaushik, in similar fashion. However, the Vidarbha attack failed to capitalize on this early success, allowing Uttar Pradesh to recover and finish the day on 75 for 2 in 23 overs.
Skipper Aryan Juyal, unbeaten on 35 off 71 balls with 3 fours, and Aaditya Sharma, not out on 25 off 44 balls including 2 fours and a six, held firm for the visitors, ensuring they ended the day with a lead of 75 runs. Their composed batting under pressure highlighted Uttar Pradesh's resilience and set the stage for a gripping continuation of the match.
Key Performances and Scorecard Summary
The day's play was marked by standout individual performances. Shivam Mavi's fiery spell of 7 for 59 was instrumental in Uttar Pradesh's early dominance, while Danish Malewar and Nachiket Bhute's heroic partnership of 118 runs showcased Vidarbha's fighting spirit. Despite their efforts, Vidarbha's inability to convert strong positions into decisive advantages proved costly.
BRIEF SCORES:
- Uttar Pradesh: 237 all out in 68.5 overs & 75 for 2 in 23 overs (Aryan Juyal batting 35, Aaditya Sharma batting 25; Yash Thakur 1-16, Nachiket Bhute 1-14) lead
- Vidarbha (overnight 33 for no loss): 237 all out in 63 overs (Danish Malewar 80, Nachiket Bhute 63, Aman Mokhade 28; Shivam Mavi 7-59, Karan Choudhary 1-35, Kartik Tyagi 1-56) by 75 runs.
As the match heads into Day 3, Uttar Pradesh holds a slight edge, but with Vidarbha's bowlers capable of striking back, the contest remains finely balanced in this thrilling Ranji Trophy encounter.
