Indore: Vidarbha inched closer to their maiden Ranji Trophy title after Akshay Wadkar batted with grit and determination and scored an unbeaten 133 as his team piled up a mammoth 528/7 on the third day of the Ranji Trophy final on Sunday.
Wasim Jaffer, the experienced campaigner who had ensured that Vidarbha remained in control of the match was dismissed by Navdeep Saini with them still trailing by 46 runs. But Wadkar was the star with the willow as he played a sensible knock that comprised of 16 fours and one six and made sure that his team had the upper hand over the 2007-2008 Ranji Trophy champions.
As a matter of fact, he along with Aditya Sarwate (79) stitched a crucial and game changing 169-run stand that took the game away from the opposition. Sarwate hit 11 fours in his 154-run knock. The lower-order further frustated the Delhi bowlers as this time it was Siddhesh Neral who joined forces with Wadkar to register a 113-run partnership. Neral played well for his unbeaten 56 runs of 92 balls in which he hit 4 fours and as many sixes to pile up more runs on the board as well as add to the misery on the Delhi bowlers, who had a poor day at the office on Sunday, scalping only three wickets and conceding 322 runs in all.
Navdeep Saini was the best bowler for Rishabh Pant’s side with three wickets, giving away 122 runs. Having gained a huge 233-run lead, Vidarbha well and truly are on course for their maiden Ranji Trophy title. On the other hand, a herculean effort is required on the part of Delhi to make a comeback in the match.
Brief scores-
Vidarbha 528/7 (Akshay Wadkar 133, Aditya Sarwate 79; Navdeep Saini 3/122) lead Delhi 295 all out by 233 runs