IT WAS a knock of substance and character. Vidarbha top-order batsman Ganesh Satish’s unbeaten hundred against Tripura in their Ranji Trophy match was a lesson for youngsters on how to build an innings when the team is in dire straits.

After having conceded a small 35-run first innings lead, Vidarbha were tottering at 79-3 when Ganesh and vice-captain Akshay Wadkar joined hands in the middle. They matched each other in all aspects, be it running between the wickets stealing singles, converting the singles into twos, punishing the loose deliveries and playing strokes all round the wicket with supreme authority. The only difference was their personal scores at end of the third day of their Group D match at Vidarbha Cricket Association’s Civil Lines ground on Thursday.

While Ganesh (142*; 198b, 18x4, 1x6) ended the day with his 16th First-Class hundred from 103rd game, in-form Wadkar (88; 117b, 9x4, 1x6) missed second ton of the season having hit one in second innings against Railways in the tournament opener. The duo added 172 for fourth wicket keeping hopes of a Vidarbha win on final day of the match on Friday. Ganesh held firm during initial stages and then when the situation demanded, he exploded. After being tested with short deliveries, Ganesh’s pulled six of pacer Abhijeet Sarkar was a shot from a batsman in complete control.

In later part of the day, Ganesh dominated the run-a-ball 65-run partnership with Apoorv Wankhade (25; 26b, 3x,4, 1x6) making 40 of those.

With a lead of 313 runs and four wickets in hand, the hosts are likely to bat for a few overs early on before pushing for second win in a row. Though the track did not offer much assistance to the bowlers, batting last on the fourth day turf will be a factor occupying minds of Tripura batters.

Moreover, the visitors have a couple of issues with the batsmen. Skipper Wriddhiman Saha, who fractured his finger on Wednesday and did not come out on the field on Thursday, will definitely struggle if he comes to bat.

Opener Bikramkumar Das, was hit over the shoulder near neck area while fielding a the forward short-leg. Vidarbha batsman’s full-blooded short hit him and the ricocheted ball was snapped by Sridam Paul as the batsman got out. But Das had to be stretchered off. Since the injury came during the match, it is very likely that the Match Referee will allow a concussion substitute.

Earlier in the day, Vidarbha bowlers required 3.3 overs to polish off Tripura tail. Yash Thakur (5-44) added one more to return with a maiden five-wicket haul while Aditya Sarvate (4-86) snared two. Vidarbha started their second essay on a positive note. Faiz Fazal (10; 33b) and R Sanjay (39; 74b, 5x4) put on 41 runs in ten overs before the former was snapped at gully by Das off left-arm spinner Parvez Sultan. Sultan also accounted for Taide.

At the stroke of lunch, Sanjay was adjudged lbw to seamer Manisankar Murasingh with the batsman indicating that he had played the ball.