Vid win hearts, Hyderabad Elite spot

NAGPUR: It was so close yet so far for Vidarbha yet again. Hyderabad finished the Plate semifinal on 486-8 well short of host's first innings score of 531. But the visitors gained back-door entry into the Ranji Elite Group by the virtue of better run-rate. After being agonizingly close to the Elite berth, Vidarbha once again stumbled in the last stride. But it certainly wasn't the same old story yet again. The twist in the tale may not have happened, the last few pages may not have led to a favourable ending. But unlike last few seasons, Vidarbha's script had FIGHT written all over it. The hearts will be heavy, full of pain for missing on the Elite berth. But for a change the heads can be held high with pride thanks to the never-say-die attitude they showed. The Vidarbha team that took the field at VCA Civil Lines ground was different from its predecessors. It was always up for a fight.The folly of the past lay in being dazed by a few punches thrown by the rival. But on Saturday, Vidarbha were not cowed in by rival surge. Till the last round they traded punch for punch. They made the opponent dread them till the fight lasted. The handful of Vidarbha loyalist who turned up at the ground will vouch for that. Hyderabad at 427-5 looked well on course of their target of 462- a total which would have ensured them a run-rate better than the host. Both the batsmen- Syed Quadri (99;190b;4x10;6x1) and Ibrahim Khaleel (49;163b;4x1)-looked set for personal milestones and good for more. But shoulders didn't droop in the Vidarbha camp.Passion, the magical potion, turned the cheers of handful of fans into a decible support of thousands. Each dot ball got a vociferous applause fooling one into believing being in a packed arena, including perhaps the opposition. They suddenly looked like growing cold feet during the closing stages of the battle. The fervent cries of the supporters worked magic onto the players. Substitute Urvesh Patel was all over the ground, diving to stop the ball and save precious runs. Amol Jungade, despite pulling a few muscles, kept exerting himself trying to extract some life out of the dead track. Sandeep Singh and Shreekant Wagh bowled their heart out. The magic rubbed onto the woefully out of touch Ravi Jangid too. Jangid hit the bull's eye effecting two run-outs with direct hits claiming dangerous Quadri and A Khader. In between Akshay Wakhare bowled Khaleel round his legs. At 449-8, Hyderabad still looked favourites to reach 'run-rate target' of 462. But Vidarbha had smelt the blood and their supporters too.It was a game of cat and mouse over the next few overs. But the best of efforts of the host bowlers were negated by the dead track. Hyderabad went past 462 and achieved the required run-rate. But still the fight was on. Vidarbha decided to take the new ball and have a last hurrah but the pitch put paid to their aspirations.If the heat of the battle didn't let the realization to sink, the blurred scene players witnessed through their teary-eyes as they trudged back to pavilion must have made them feel special.SCOREBOARDVidarbha (1st innings): 531.Hyderabad (1st innings, overnight 216-3): A Yadav b Wakhare 128; B Sandeep c Chore b Jungade 79, A Quadri run out (Jangid) 99, I Khaleel b Wakhare 49, K Naidu not out 29, A Khader run out (Jangid) 8, L Mohan 17.Extras: (b 4, lb 11, nb 2, w 7) 23.Total: (8 wkts; 166 overs) 486.Fall of wickets: 1-23, 2-28, 3-84, 4-251, 5-297, 6-427, 7-432, 8-449. Bowling: S Wagh 25-3-84-0, S Singh 36-7-108-1, A Jungade 30-5-91-2, A Wakhare 52-15-126-2, R Jangid 21-3-57-0, H Badani 2-0-6-0.