By Paritosh Pramanik VIDARBHA bowlers produced a match-winning performance as they thrashed Goa by an innings and 27 runs to take full points, including a bonus, from their Elite Group ‘A’ Ranji Trophy match on Thursday. Resuming the day at 41 for one, Goa’s innings folded at 195, an hour-and-half after lunch. With this innings and 27 runs victory, Vidarbha jumped to the top spot in Group A with 19 points. After the third round, Baroda are at second spot with 17 points followed by Uttar Pradesh with 16. Vidarbha next play Madhya Pradesh from November 2 at VCA’s Jamtha Stadium. Vidarbha were confident of an outright win from the morning, despite Goa being only one wicket down. With overcast conditions, Vidarbha wanted to finish the game before any rain interruption. The pacers started taking wickets with Rajneesh Gurbani (1-20) and Yash Thakur (1-20) snapping the top order in the first hour of the day. And by lunch, Goa were four wickets down with 124 runs on the board. Post lunch, 90 minutes into the game, the teams were shaking hands as Vidarbha decimated Goa taking the remaining six wickets in no time. Goa’s Manthan Khutkar delayed the inevitable with a dogged half century (70).

 

Vidarbha’s premier spinner Harsh Dubey was brought into the attack a bit late by captain Akshay Wadkar, a ploy which worked well as the India leftarm orthodox snared four wickets in the innings. He first got well-set Khutkar and then a couple of deliveries later got Yash Kasvankar in the same pattern with Samarth being the catcher at leg slip on both the occasions. Khutkar entertained his camp with five sixes and four boundaries from 160-ball stay in the middle. He had a special liking for Vidarbha spinner Parth Rekhade as he hit him for a couple of sixes. He completed his fifth First-Class half century with a maximum over mid-wicket, his favourite spot, off Rekhade. In the process, Goa also completed their 100 runs. Gurbani would have got Khutkar on the second ball of the day when the batter was trapped in front of the wicket but the umpire thought otherwise. Thakur was brought into attack in the 31st over from city end and he immediately delivered, taking the prized scalp of rival captain Abhinav Tejrana (14). Gurbani then took a wicket in the very next over getting newman Snehal Kauthankar (1) caught behind for zero as trouble mounted for the visiting team. Vidarbha operated with seamers in the morning session and spinners were introduced from both ends after 17 overs of the day. Post lunch, Goa lost six wickets scoring only 73 runs. Dubey collected four wickets while his spin partners Rekhade and Aman Mokhade took a wicket each. Seamers Nachiket Bhute, Thakur and Gurbani too collected one each.