Irani Cup 2019, ROI vs Vidarbha, Day 4, Review: Hanuma Vihari steals the show; game in the balance

The Rest of India (ROI) were in a decent position after the close of play on the third day against Vidarbha in the Irani Cup. They had a lead of seven runs with eight wickets in hand. The team, captained by Ajinkya Rahane, managed to tighten their grip on the encounter courtesy of a masterful century from Hanuma Vihari. The captain Rahane also churned out a handsome half-century.

Following Anmolpreet’s dismissal, Mayank Agarwal also perished in quick succession. The Karnataka-batsman was looking good and scored 27 runs from 39 balls with four glorious boundaries. Just when he was seeming to enter his groove, right-arm off-break bowler Akshay Wakhare nipped him out in the 12th over. The onus was thereafter on Vihari and Ajinkya to steady the ship.

The incredible partnership

Rahane and Hanuma put their heads down and cobbled together a stupendous stand of 229 runs to put ROI in a commanding position. Vihari went on to notch a brilliant 180 runs from 301 deliveries with 19 boundaries and as many as four hits into the stands. Rahane was rather patient and waited for the loose deliveries to put away. The Mumbai-batter scored 87 runs from 232 balls.

Rahane’s knock was laced with six fours and a six. Aditya Sarwate nipped out Rahane in the 93rd over to separate the duo. Shreyas Iyer came in at number five and churned out a breezy knock of 61 runs and ROI declared with the score at 374 for three, thereby setting a  target of 280 runs for Vidarbha.

Ankit Rajpoot accounted for Faiz Fazal’s wicket for a duck after which Sanjay Raghunath and Atharwa Taide played out the remaining overs. With 243 runs to get on the last day, the game is well and truly in the balance and either team could go on to emerge victorious in the Irani Cup.

Brief Scores:

Rest of India, 1st Innings: 330/10 in 89.4 overs (Hanuma Vihari 114, Mayank Agarwal 95, Aditya Sarwate 3/99)

Vidarbha, 1st Innings: 425/10 in 142.2 overs (Akshay Karnewar 102, Akshay Wadkar 73, Rahul Chahar 4/112)

Rest of India, 2nd Innings: 102/2 in 35 overs (Hanuma Vihari 180*, Ajinkya Rahane 87, Aditya Sarwate 2/141)

Vidarbha, 1st Innings: 37/1 in 16 overs (Sanjay Raghunath 17*, Atharwa Taide 16, Ankit Rajpoot 16)

Match Situation: Vidarbha need 243 runs to win.

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