Maharashtra batters help consistent Vidarbha

Pune: With the scorecard reading 100-5, Maharashtra had lost the appetite by the time lunch had been called. At 208 all out, they knew the second session was not their cup of tea. A sour taste in the mouth lingered at stumps with the visitors moving to 111-1.While the hosts struggled on the first day of their Ranji Trophy league match against Vidarbha, the visitors showed how to bowl on a good pitch at Gahunje on Friday. And how to bat with patience.The wicket, which is supposedly not suited for ‘decisive’ games prompting the hosts shift the preceding game to Solapur, saw Vidarbha pacers not just share five key Maharashtra wickets, they also sent the hosts batters home in just 56.3 overs before tea was taken.Opting to bowl after winning the toss, the Vidarbha duo of Aditya Thakare and Yash Thakur showed how to swing the ball on the supposedly batting-friendly track. And the hosts batters didn’t show enough technique or consistency and over-rewarded them in the process.Murtaza Trunkwala (6) playing his first match of the season was taken in the second slip in the fourth over of the day. His opening partner Pavan Shah (35) looked in good touch with Kaushal Tambe (23). The duo added 42 runs, rotating strike and occasionally hitting fours.However, Shah became victim of a brilliant direct throw by Lalit Yadav from deep-square as the opener rushed to finish his second run. Three overs later, Tambe edged the ball to Karun Nair in the first slip off Thakur.Ankeet Bawne (15, 1x4, 1x6) had 25 dot balls off the 30 he faced and soon lost his patience. His cover drive off Yadav nestled in Yash Rathod’s hands. Next ball: Yadav demoted promoted Ashay Palkar to the dressing room by trapping him lbw. Vidharbha had Maharashtra for lunch at 100-5.Skipper Kedar Jadhav (27 off 37) tried to control the damage with his aggressive style and negotiated the pacers well. But he fell prey to left-arm spinner Aditya Sarwate at mid-on (Shorey). Now, 114-6.Debutant Digvijay Patil, third wicketkeeper of the season Dhanraj Shinde and Hitesh Walunj didn’t last long. A late charge by tailender Manoj Ingale (36 off 38 balls, 2x4s, 3x6s) took the hosts past 200. Vidarbha batters initially didn’t face much trouble. They were leaving a few balls from Palkar and Pradeep Dadhe. But Atharva Taide (21, 4x4s) misread a slower delivery from Dadhe and was declared lbw.Shorey (55*) and Rathod (29*) then held fort for the second wicket.