IN-FORM batter Mandar Mahale and all-rounder Parth Rekhade staged abrilliant recovery as Vidarbha finally tasted success on their maiden international tour getting past hosts Namibia by one wicket in the fourth one-dayer of five-match series in Windhoek on Wednesday. In bowling friendly conditions, chasing Namibia’s 247-6 made in 50 overs,Vidarbha, having lost the previous three encounters, looked down andout when they lost top six batters with just 94on theboardin the 21st over. Butthe duo of Mahale (87; 115b,7x4) and Rekhade (63;62b, 4x4, 2x6) showed their intent to fight and added invaluable 127 runs for the seventh wicket to bring the team closer to the target.

 

Mahale,who has struck fifties in the first two games,was patience personified and got anablyally in Rekhade.Bothleft-handed batters were ready for the grind and their effortpaid off. While Mahale completed his third fifty in the format,Rekha demade his maiden List Afifty, infact first in any format for Vidarbha. With 27 needed for a win, Rekhade got out while Mahale was ninth out in 49.2overs with the visitors requiring fourfromlast four balls. Lanky speedster Saurabh Dubey hoicked the penultimate for amassive six signalling Vidarbha’s triumph over anational side. Earlier,Vidarbha won the toss and restricted Namibia to 247-6. Rekhade (10-1-28-2) and Dubey (10-1-49-2), whohas been giving early break throughs to the team, snared two wickets each. Aditya Thakare (10-1-35-1) also bowled well. For Namibia, Gerhard Erasmus made anun beaten 118. Last match of the series will be played on July 10.