Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: Vidarbha moved closer to securing a first innings lead against Goa after reaching 217 for 3 in 74 overs on the second day of their Ranji Trophy Elite match at the VCA Jamtha Stadium in Nagpur on Tuesday.
Goa, who resumed their first innings at 204 for 8, managed to add only 16 runs before being bowled out for 220 in 93.5 overs. Yash Kasvankar remained unbeaten on 63 off 212 balls, hitting five boundaries in a patient knock. Vidarbha pacer Nachiket Bhute led the bowling effort with five wickets for 48 runs.
Vidarbha also suffered an early setback in their reply when Vasuki Koushik dismissed Satyam Bhoyar for two. However, Aman Mokhade and Ravikumar Samarth steadied the innings with a 58 run partnership for the second wicket.
Mokhade contributed 39 before falling to Ruthvik Naik, while Samarth continued to anchor the innings. He added 60 runs for the third wicket with Dhruv Shorey, taking Vidarbha to 124 for 3 before being dismissed for 53.
Goa then struggled to make further inroads as Shorey and Danish Malewar combined effectively to take control of the innings. The pair shared an unbeaten 93 run partnership for the fourth wicket, bringing Vidarbha within touching distance of overtaking Goa’s first innings total.
Shorey remained unbeaten on 63, while Malewar supported him with an unbeaten 51. Their partnership helped Vidarbha reach 217 for 3 at stumps, just three runs behind Goa’s total, with seven wickets still in hand.
For Goa, Koushik finished with two wickets for 27 runs, while Naik claimed one for 27. Vidarbha will look to complete the first innings lead when play resumes, while Goa will need early breakthroughs to prevent the hosts from building a substantial advantage.
Goa, first innings: 220 all out in 93.5 overs. Yash Kasvankar 63 not out. Nachiket Bhute 5/48, Rajneesh Gurbani 3/33.
Vidarbha, first innings: 217/3 in 74 overs. Dhruv Shorey 63 not out, Danish Malewar 51 not out, Ravikumar Samarth 53, Aman Mokhade 39. Vasuki Koushik 2/27, Ruthvik Naik 1/27.
