Vidarbha blow bugle in Punjab
| Date :10-Nov-2020 |
By Anupam Soni :
Record thumping innings and 117-run win inside three days in tournament opener
IN NINE matches the eventual champions played that season, Vidarbha recorded as many as seven outright wins starting with a thumping win over Punjab in their own den in the tournament opener. The foundation of Vidarbha’s maiden Ranji Trophy triumph was laid with the first match itself in their Group D league encounter played at Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium, Mohali, Chandigarh in October 2017. Vidarbha won by an innings and 117 runs inside three days to collect full seven points including a bonus. Punjab skipper Yuvraj Singh elected to bat.
The decision boomeranged as Vidarbha seamers Lalit Yadav and Rajneesh Gurbani sent back both the openers — Manan Vohra and Jiwanjot Singh — with the scoreboard reading zero. While Vohra was trapped lbw, Gurbani caught Singh off his own bowling. Yadav got the big fish Yuvraj (20) soon caught by Wasim Jaffer. In the next over, debutant Siddhesh Neral picked his first wicket having Mayank Sidhana caught by Gurbani. When Pargat Singh edged one to Vidarbha skipper Faiz Fazal, the hosts were looking down the barrel at 35-5 in 14. 1 overs in first hour of play. Wicketkeeper Abhishek Gupta (89; 93b 13x4, 2x6) played a counter-attacking knock before Vidarbha spinner Akshay Karnewar had him caught and bowled. On the next ball he cleaned up Barinder Sran. Punjab were shot out for 161 in 42.2 overs.
In reply, Faiz (21) and R Sanjay (161; 339b, 18x4) started patiently but the former was bowled around his legs going for a sweep to left-arm spinner Abhishek Sharma. Veteran Wasim Jaffer (22) joined Sanjay and the two again dropped anchor to see the team through the opening day. The visitors took Day One honours and were 106-1 at stumps. In the first ten overs of the second day, Punjab pacers Manpreet Gony and Sandeep Sharma scalped one each to reduce Vidarbha to 129-3. Gony had Jaffer lbw and Sandeep shattered the sticks of stumper Jitesh Sharma (9). Ganesh Satish walked into the middle and took his own sweet time to settle down.
After he hit debutant Raghu Sharma for a four and then hoicked Abhishek Sharma for a six in the next over, Ganesh looked in total control. He, along with a well-set Sanjay, who was striking the ball beautifully and finding the gaps at will, took the team past 300-run mark. After they had added seven more, Sanjay was bowled by offie Pargat Singh with ball keeping low. He batted close to eight hours for a well-compiled 161. Hard-hitter Apoorv Wankhade (32; 55b, 4x4) showed glimpses of his prowess with four fours before being adjudged lbw to Abhishek. Meanwhile, with two boundaries in one Pargat over, Ganesh completed his hundred. Left-handed Karnewar (34; 42b, 4x4, 2x6) hit second ball six to open his account. The two did not let go any scoring opportunity and took the team to 5-419 at stumps.
Like the first two days, the initial freshness again gave the bowling side two moments of joy. After the twin dismissals of Karnewar and Gurbani, Ganesh, left to bat with the tail, changed gears. He hit his third six off Abhishek to race to his 150 and then pulled Gony for another six. Akshay Wakhare (16*; 57b) was ready for the grind and remained unbeaten playing 84 minutes. Ganesh perished going for a big heave but Lalit Yadav (25; 46b, 3,4, 1x6) played some smart cricket to help the team cross 500. “It was first match of the season. Coach Chandrakant Pandit and senior player Wasim bhai (Jaffer) asked me to have certain adjustments. Pandit sir instilled confidence in me saying that you must not worry and I will give you a long run. Faiz bhai (Fazal) has always been a helping hand.
Their faith in me certainly helped. I was a bit nervous to start with as it was first match of season but as the innings progressed, I opened up,” said Sanjay on preparations ahead of the match and his second First-Class hundred. On his partnership with Ganesh, Sanjay said, “Ganesh bhaiyya does not talk much. But he would certainly speak up his mind regarding behaviour of the track and about bowlers. The only plan was to bat long. It was a big learning experience batting along with him.” With a huge target of 345 runs to make Vidarbha bat again, Punjab openers Vohra (51) and Jiwanjot Singh (13) came out with positive intent. Faiz started with Yadav and Karnewar but it was offie Wakhare who gave team the breakthrough. He had Jiwanjot caught by Jaffer. Karnewar then got rid of Pargat (28) and Vohra in quick succession. Yuvraj (42) and later Abhishek Sharma (49) offered some resistance but the left-right combination of Karnewar (6-47) and Wakhare (4-83) ensured that the match did not see the light of fourth day. Wakhare, who along with namesake Akshay Karnewar, shared all the ten second innings wickets, termed the win as a morale booster that set tone for the season.
“It was a memorable start to the season away from home and first experience under Chandu Sir. Punjab is a big team and had big players including Yuvraj Singh. Beating them at their home was morale boosting for the entire team. “Though not a green top, the track was helping the seamers initially and our fast bowlers did a good job in the first innings. Openers (Faiz and Sanjay) gave us a good start to set up the match. Ganesh bhaiyya batted very well. I was also happy that I could contribute in the winning cause. Akshay (Karnewar) was brilliant and made it a one-sided affair in a matter of few overs. Both of us exploited the footmarks very well,” said Wakhare recalling the tournament opener.