Nagpur: Before the clouds rolled in and dimmed the afternoon light at VCA Jamtha, Manav Suthar sent down a delivery that gave hints of things to come. The ball, angled at middle and leg, gripped the surface and spat sideways past Dhruv Shorey’s bat. A puff of soil rose, a reminder that the pitch was alive, and even wicketkeeper Ishan Kishan, surprised by the vicious spin, muttered a few words in disbelief. Until then, the turn had been teasing, occasional, but never cruel. But that moment — that one ball — foretold a story Rest of India (RoI) would rather not hear.As the skies thickened and the light dimmed further, the narrative tilted. Vidarbha, unflustered by spin’s late menace, ended the day at 96 for two, their lead swelling and their grip tightening on the Irani Cup. By the time the umpires dislodged the bails for bad light, the Ranji champions had carved out a 224-run lead.The morning had begun with RoI teetering at 142 for five, their captain Rajat Patidar and bowling all-rounder Suthar clinging to hope. That hope lasted just one ball. Aditya Thakare, sharp and precise, won a review to trap Suthar lbw and set the tone for the day. From there, Vidarbha’s quicks smelt blood. Yash Thakur bent his back to castle Saransh Jain’s stumps with a yorker, then forced Akash Deep into a miscued slash that ended in the covers. Patidar alone carried on defiantly, his 66 decorated with silken cover drives, until Harsh Dubey lured him into one risk too many — a lofted drive that died in the hands of long-off. With Thakur wrapping up the innings at 4 for 66, Rest of India folded for 214, conceding a hefty 128-run lead.
Poll
Who do you think will win the Irani Cup?
The reply from Vidarbha’s openers was brisk. Atharva Taide, centurion of the first innings, perished cheaply this time, caught at deep midwicket to Suthar. Aman Mokhade’s defiant innings, too, ended in misjudgement, his hook against Gurnoor Brar feathering to Kishan on the leg side. At 64 for two, the game could have flickered open. But Dhruv Shorey and Danish Malewar restored order, their gritty knocks steadying Vidarbha as the day closed under brooding skies.For RoI, the task now is less about revival and more about survival. Vidarbha, with eight wickets intact and a fortress of runs behind them, would feel their third Irani Cup title is within touching distance.Brief scores: Vidarbha 342 & 96/2 in 36 overs (Aman Mokhade 37) vs Rest of India 214 in 69.5 overs (Abhimanyu Easwaran 52, Rajat Patidar 66, Yash Thakur 4/66)
