A CONFIDENT Vidarbha outfit would take to the field at Narendra Modi Stadium Ground A, Motera in Ahmedabad with an intent of defending their Col CK Nayudu Trophy title when they lock horns with Mumbai in the summit clash starting Sunday. Having registered a come from behind win in their semi-final against Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha look a confident side. In the entire tournament, their batting just failed twice including once in the first innings of the semis. But the boys bounced back brilliantly in their second essay to record a convincing five-wicket win over their neighbours chasing over 300 in the fourth innings.

 

With three centuries and a fifty, Vidarbha’s former India Under-19 batsman Yash Rathod has amassed 546 runs and is present the best ranked batsman from both side at fourth in the batting chart. Mumbai’s Suved Parkar follows him at the fifth sport with 518 runs with two tons and an equal number of fifties. In-form Vidarbha opener Aman Mokhade (442 runs, 2x100s, 3x50s) and dependable middle-order bat Mohit Kale (425 runs with a 226 and two fifties) are the next best in the list. Kale, with an unbeaten 77, led the team to victory in semis along with skipper Siddhesh Wath (40; the other not out batsmen). Vidarbha all-rounder Harsh Dubey is placed second in the list of bowlers with most wickets. The left-arm spinner, with four five-wicket hauls, has picked 34 wickets in the tourney so far returning with two seven-wicket shows in an innings.

 

 

 

Parth Rekhade, also of the same tribe, has also been very impressive with the new and old balls bowling a menacing line and being economical most of the times. He has 22 scalps and is tenth in the list. The duo has been supported well by seamers Praful Hinge, Nachiket Bhute and Shanmesh Deshmukh, who have provided vital breakthroughs. Meanwhile, Mumbai, who made it to the knock-outs topping Elite Group A with 16 points with two wins and a draw from three matches, defeated Karnataka by four wickets in the quarters and then beat Rajasthan by 208 runs in the semis.