VIDARBHA batters made mountain out of a molehill as they managed to beat Jammu and Kashmir by three wickets in their second Elite Group ‘A’ Ranji Trophy match in Srinagar. The four-day match completed inside three days but not before a dramatic collapse from Vidarbha batters who, despite bundling out the hosts for 123 runs and getting a target of 79 runs, were staring defeat but were saved by Harsh Dubey (22*) and Nachiket Bhute’s (13*) eighth wicket unbeaten 26 runs partnership. After reducing Jammu and Kashmir at seven for four wickets on the second day, Vidarbha pacer Bhute completed his First-Class career’s third five-wicket haul as the hosts could muster 123 runs, giving a meagre target of 79 runs to Vidarbha.

 

The former three-time champions must have knocked off those runs without losing a wicket and should have earned a bonus point but the batters made hara-kiri before debutant Mandar Mahale (25) and Dubey (22*) stemmed the rot with a fighting seventh wicket partnership of 29 runs. Dubey and Bhute then crossed the line in 22.5 overs to hand Vidarbha their second win on the trot. Vidarbha had a disastrous start to the chase. First innings centurion Ravikumar Samarth could not replicate his knock and was first to go in the fourth over scoring only six runs. Aman Mokhade managed a 10-ball one run before he was caught by wicketkeeper Rydham Sharma off Umar Nazir. To make the matter worse Vidarbha lost three quick wickets by 10th over with Dhruv Shorey (0), Danish Malewar (8) and Praful Hinge (0) perishing to Umar Nazir and Sunil Kumar’s seam bowling. With 54 still needing Vidarbha pushed up Praful Hinge to use his long handle and collect quick runs but the bowler fell to a two-ball duck.

 

An over later, captain Akshay Wadkar mixed up with Mahale and was run out for one. Mahale then negotiated the Jammu and Kashmir seamers for a while with a 47-ball 25 and with Dubey the duo put up 29 runs as they reached 55-7 in 19.5 overs. Vidarbha needed another 25 runs when Mahale departed caught by Umran Malik off Kumar. India ‘A’ bowler Bhute then took the matter in his own hands and released the pressure with two boundaries and he along with Dubey took the team home. Vidarbha will next play Goa at VCA’s Jamtha Stadium from October 26.