OPENER Ravikumar Samarth produced a gritty century to rescue Vidarbha from a precarious position and put them in command against Jammu and Kashmir on Day 2 of their Ranji Trophy Elite Group ‘A’ clash at the Sher-i-Kashmir Cricket Stadium in Srinagar on Monday. Samarth’s resolute century (143; 202b, 17x4, 1x6), first of the season, and his important 136 runs eighth wicket partnership with Rajneesh Gurbani (64*) powered Vidarbha to 305 in their first innings, giving them a valuable 45-run lead over J&K’s 260. Vidarbha’s slender advantage soon turned into a position of strength as India ‘A’ pacers Nachiket Bhute and Praful Hinge — ripped through the home side’s top order in a devastating opening burst to reduce them to 7-4 from five overs at stumps, 38 runs still in deficit. Opener Qamran Iqbal (1) and captain Paras Dogra (1) were at the crease.

 

It was a disastrous beginning for Vidarbha on the second morning until Samarth and Gurbani resurrected the innings. Barring Samarth, the top and middle order collapsed under relentless pace and movement from the J&K seamers. Aman Mokhade (10), Dhruv Shorey (2) Danish Malewar (9), debutant Mandar Mahale (9), captain Akshay Wadkar (3) all were beaten by sheer pace. Harsh Dubey tried to counterattack J&K bowlers with three boundaries for his 14 runs before falling to a seaming delivery from Umran Malik giving a catch to wicketkeeper Rydham Sharma in the 30th over. Thirty-three-year-old Samarth negotiated the seaming deliveries beautifully and kept one end intact even as wickets continued to tumble at the other end.

 

He took the mettle in his own hands taking as much strike as possible and hit 17 boundaries and a six to notch up his 17th First-Class century before left-arm pacer Sunil Kumar found a faint edge from his bat to see the ball land in wicketkeeper Sharma’s gloves. Gurbani and Bhute stretched Vidarbha’s innings further as the last wicket pair added crucial 35 runs which helped them swell the lead. After Bhute’s (9) departure in the 35th over, Gurbani, who returned to his roots after a stint with Maharashtra, showed his batting skills and frustrated J&K bowlers with his 104-ball 64 runs. Out of the 104 balls he faced, 78 were dot balls. Ten boundaries and a six came from his blade before he ran short of partners. The slender lead pumped up Vidarbha pacers as they ran through J&K top order to leave them reeling at 7-4. Their early strikes left the J&K batting line-up in disarray, handing Vidarbha a commanding position at the close of an eventful second day.