Ranji Trophy: Atharva Taide hits sensational ton to steer Vidarbha against Karnataka on Day 1 of quarterfinal

NEW DELHI: Vidarbha's opener Atharva Taide showcased his batting prowess by striking his third first-class century, marking his second of the ongoing Ranji Trophy season. On Day 1 of the quarterfinal clash against Karnataka, Vidarbha finished at a commanding 261 for three, with Taide leading the charge with a resilient 109.Despite a shaky start that saw the early dismissal of Dhruv Shorey (12), Taide, who has been Vidarbha's standout performer this season, joined forces with Yash Rathod (93) to build a formidable partnership. The duo stitched a commendable 184-run stand for the second wicket, putting Karnataka on the backfoot.Vidwath Kaverappa finally broke the partnership, dismissing Rathod just seven runs short of what could have been his maiden first-class century. However, Taide continued his excellent form, reaching the century mark before being trapped leg before by Hardik Raj at a team score of 251 for three.Despite Taide's departure, Vidarbha ended the day on a strong note at 261 for three, with Karun Nair and skipper Akshay Wadkar unbeaten on 30 and 2 respectively.For Karnataka, there were three different wicket-takers, but Vasuki Koushik (1/31) emerged as the most economical bowler with an impressive economy of 1.47. Vijaykumar Vyshak, Karnataka's leading wicket-taker in the season, maintained a decent economy of 2.16.Brief Scores: Vidarbha 261 for 3 in 86 overs (Atharva Taide 109, Yash Rathod 93; Vasuki Koushik 1/31) vs Karnataka.(Inputs from PTI)