Vidarbha have one foot in quarters

Nagpur: Emotions hung heavy over VCA Civil Lines Stadium on Sunday after Faiz Fazal announced his retirement, but Vidarbha didn’t lose focus on the job at hand. The bowlers restricted Haryana to 333, to give Vidarbha a crucial first innings lead.The hosts finished the Day 3 on 113 for 4, an overall lead of 225 runs. A run-out, which resulted in Dhruv Shorey going back to the pavilion was the only aberration in an otherwise perfect script. Vidarbha would now look to bat Haryana out of the match and seal a quarterfinal spot on the last day of the Elite Group ‘A’ Ranji Trophy match.Starting the day on 198 for 4, Haryana lost four wickets in the first session for the addition of 93 runs. Haryana skipper Ashok Menaria (15;28b;2x4) was trapped in front of the wicket by Yash Thakur in the eighth over of the day with the score on 210.Soon after, centurion Nishant Sindhu (131;164b;19x4;1x6) was sent back by offie Akshay Wakhare. Rahul Tewatia (59;98b;8x4;1x6) tried to wipe out the deficit with the help of the tail but his run-out ended Haryana's resistance.Though Faiz departed early in Vidarbha's reply, Dhruv Shorey (43;104b;5x4) and Atharva Taide (49;74b;5x4;1x6) steadied the innings. The two added 74 runs for the second wicket.Though Taide and Karun Nair departed (11;33b;1x4) one after the other, Shorey looked good for a big one. However, a direct hit from Sindhu found Shorey short of the crease as Vidarbha lost the fourth wicket on 113 and the umpires called it a day. BRIEF SCORES: Vidarbha: 423 & 113 for 4 in 38.2 overs (Atharva Taide 49, Dhruv Shorey 43; Anshul Kamboj 1-22) lead Haryana (Overnight 198 for 4): 333 all out in 96.2 overs (Nishant Sindhu 131, Rahul Tewatia 59; Y Singh 48; Aditya Sarvate 3-59, Yash Thakur 3-79) by 225 runs.