AFTER the bowlers did a decent job of limiting Mumbai to a reasonable score, Vidarbha openers faltered as the team ended on backfoot on Day Two of their Col CK Nayudu Trophy final under way at Narendra Modi Stadium Ground A, Motera in Ahmedabad on Monday.

Vidarbha bowlers, led by left-arm spinner Harsh Dubey who picked four wickets, took seven wickets on second day of the match giving away 242 runs as Mumbai first innings ended at 468 batting 156.2 overs.

Vidarbha needed a good start in pursuit of the big chase but once again the opening partnership flopped for the defending champions. This was one area that the team from Central India could not improve upon in the entire series. They have been playing mix-n-match with the second opener’s slot with in-form Aman Mokhade making one of the two his own.

Mokhade (19; 41b, 3x4) and Nayan Chavan (3; 16b) both returned back while the two Yash — Rathod (6*; 58b) and Kadam (4*; 11b, 1x4) were at the crease at end of 21 overs with the scoreboard reading 37-2. With loss of both the openers, Vidarbha have left themselves with a mountain to climb in remaining part of the match. They are still 431 runs behind and though they have batsmen including Mohit Kale, who has hit a double ton in the tourney, and the team bats deep, it will be an arduous task for them in the coming days.

Earlier in the day, Mumbai batters improved upon their scoring rate after a slow start.

The overnight not out batsmen Armaan Jaffer (85; 174b, 8x4, 2x6) and Suved Parkar (72; 186b, 5x4, 4x6) changed gears and did not let go the loose balls unpunished. The duo looked set for a huge partnership but Dubey ran out Jaffer for an opening. Later, Om Jadhav (89; 105b, 9x4, 1x6) and Khizar Dafedar (42; 56b, 4x4, 2x6) added runs at a good pace taking the team past 450-run mark.

Dubey (4-177) leaked too many runs but was the most successful of Vidarbha bowlers. Parth Rekhade and seamer Nachiket Bhute took two apiece while Praful Hinge chipped in with one wicket.