PROFESSIONAL batters Ravikumar Samarth, Dhruv Shorey and Vidarbha’s very own Danish Malewar scored a half century each to take the hosts at the doorsteps of first innings lead against Goa on the second day of their Elite Group ‘A’ Ranji Trophy match at VCA’s Jamtha Stadium on Tuesday. While Samarth (53) scored his 38th First-Class half century, Shorey (63*) notched up his 26th fifty. At the fag end of the day, Malewar (51*) too scored his 10th fifty as Vidarbha ended the day at 217-2 in 74 overs, four runs short of taking first innings lead. Apart from their half centuries, it was the partnerships by the three batters which profited Vidarbha. Samarth and opener Aman Mokhade (39) added 58 runs for the second wicket and then Samarth and Shorey stitched another 58 runs for the third to put Vidarbha in a strong position. If that was not enough, Shorey and Malewar frustrated Goa bowlers further with an unbeaten 93 runs stand for the fourth wicket. After having a relatively quiet season last year, the Mysore-born Samarth started the 2026-27 season afresh. Samarth, who had slammed a hundred against Jammu and Kashmir in Vidarbha’s last game at Srinagar, notched up a half century against Goa. “Last season, I was getting starts but was unable to convert them into big scores. This season I am able to do it and am happy with the way things are going,” said Samarth after the day’s play. Resuming the day at 204-8, Goa’s tailed was polished by Vidarbha seamers in 38 minutes of morning session. Rajneesh Gurbani took the wicket of Vasuki Koushik in the third over of the day and then Bhute finished Goa’s innings taking the last man Shubham Tari for a four-ball zero. In the process he also completed his well-deserved fifer as Goa’s innings ended at 220.

 

Overnight batter Yash Kasvankar was left stranded at 63. Vidarbha started cautiously but lost Satyam Bhoyar in the seventh over. Mokhade and Samarth then took over. The 33-year-old right-handed batter Samarth continued from where he left in Srinagar as he helped Vidarbha inch closer to taking first innings lead. Vidarbha’s chase looked a bit slow as they could manage only 42 runs from first 20 overs before lunch and then scored 81 post lunch session from 26 overs. “The pitch was playing slow and Goa bowlers were tidy in their line and length. They did not give us any space to score freely,” explained Samarth of Vidarbha’s tactics. Goa pacers were disciplined and bowled a perfect line not giving Vidarbha batters any space to free their arms. Vasuki Koushik and Ruthvik Naik kept their deliveries on the off stump line forcing Mokhade and Samarth to play safely. Mokhade targeted Goa pacer Shubham Tari as he hit him two fours in an over — a beautiful cover drive and then a pull shot to fine leg fence. In the 27th over Samarth hit an exquisite cover drive off Kasvankar to bring up the 50 runs partnerships for second wicket from 118 deliveries. Mokhade, who had picked a beautiful boundary through covers off Naik, perished the next delivery edging it back to wicketkeeper Shivendra Bhujpal. Samarth too could not stay put after tea break as he poked his bat to a widish delivery off Koushik to give an easy catch to the stumper. However, Shorey and Danish Malewar joined hands and put up another big stand for the fourth wicket. Delhi-born Shorey, who hit four balls to the fence, completed his 26th First-Class half century from 100 deliveries. Malewar, who missed most of the last season due to injury, then cut loose on Kasvankar and hit a powerful boundary through long-on and a couple of deliveries later towards covers taking Vidarbha’s total near 200-run mark. He duly completed his half century in the last over of the day.