THE first 150-plus score by a Vidarbha batsman helped the team record their biggest successful chase in the history of Vijay Hazare One-Day Trophy cricket tournament at Cricket Club of India ground in Mumbai on Thursday. Riding on left-handed opener’s Atharva Taide’s unbeaten explosive knock of 164 that came from 123 balls and included 15 hits to the fence and five over it, Vidarbha made mockery of Andhra Pradesh’s 287-8, overhauling the target in a mere 41.4 overs. Not new to scoring runs in tons, Taide became first from Vidarbha to cross the 150-run mark in the prestigious one-day national event. Incidentally, this is Vidarbha’s highest successful run chase.

 

 

 

The previous best was 274-2 against Madhya Pradesh in Indore in 2007. With two hundreds in the format, he is now joint second best with team-mates Ganesh Satish and Jitesh Sharma. Skipper Faiz Fazal leads the chart with seven centuries. As the then Under-19 skipper Taide had became the first batsman from Vidarbha in any age group to score a triple ton in 2018. The big win with 50 balls remaining, improved the net run rate and after two wins from as many games in as many days, Vidarbha are leading Elite Group A with eight points. After a day’s break, Vidarbha will take on Odisha who are also on an identical eight points and follow the leaders at second spot.

 

Faiz won another toss and again opted to field. Aditya Thakare (2-22), who ended as the most economical bowler, drew first blood cleaning up opener Ashwin Hebbar for two. Other opener CR Gnaneshwar (93; 126b, 7x4) and India player Ambati Rayudu (53; 49b, 2x4, 3x6) and Pinninti Tapaswi (45*; 25b, 6x4) were the main contributors for Andhra. Yash Thakur, who took five wickets a day before, picked three for 74 while Aditya Sarvate gave away 45 runs for his three wickets. Once again Taide and Faiz (26; 27b, 5x4) gave the team a flying start posting 52 in 7.2 overs. Ganesh (43; 53b, 3x4) let Taide dominate the second wicket partnership that yielded 118 runs. Left-handed batter Yash Rathod (44*; 48b, 4x4) played another unbeaten knock as the team closed the deal in 42nd over.