BY CONCEDING first innings lead, defending champions Vidarbha have almost conceded their Col CK Nayudu Trophy to Mumbai.

Though a few batsmen got starts and tried their best, they could not match Mumbai’s first innings score of 468 as Vidarbha folded for 385. In their second essay Mumbai made 14 without loss in six overs swelling their lead to 97 runs with all wickets intact at stumps on Day Three on Tuesday.

After early loss of openers on fag end of second day at Narendra Modi Stadium Ground A, Motera in Ahmedabad on Monday, Vidarbha’s top run-getter Yash Rathod (41; 123b, 3x4) and fellow left-hander Yash Kadam (61; 111b, 5x4, 2x6), the overnight not out batsmen, started on a positive note. After playing out 23 overs and collecting 85 runs in the first session of play, Rathod became the first casualty. Within eight overs and addition of 27 runs, Kadam, too, departed. The dismissal brought together Mohit Kale and skipper Siddhesh Wath. The two batsmen, who played fighting knocks on fourth day pitch in the semis to guide the team through to the final.

They looked on course once again. Kale (60; 87b, 8x4) and Wath (55; 84b, 6x4, 1x6) got going and the partnership was akin to setting kitten among pigeons. Mumbai boys looked frustrated as the duo mixed caution and aggression to score freely. They took the score from 143 to 247 completing the hundred-run partnership for the fifth wicket. But, once again, both fell in quick succession and from a good position Vidarbha found themselves fending.

Last of the recognised batsmen, Mandar Mahalle (81; 85b, 7x4, 3x6), had the tail, that in previous matches had showed the potential to score runs, for his company. But it was not the tailenders’ day and they just surrendered.