Ranji Trophy 2024-25: Vidarbha tightens its grip vs Tamil Nadu in battle of attrition

On an attritional day of action where both teams had their moments, Vidarbha tightened its grip on the Ranji Trophy quarterfinals against Tamil Nadu after taking a commanding 128-run first-innings lead on day three here at the VCA ground on Monday.

The home team needed just 90 minutes in the morning session to bundle out TN for 225, with Aditya Thakare completing his first five-wicket haul of the season.

In its second essay, Vidarbha ended the day on 169 for five, riding on Yash Rathod’s gritty unbeaten half-century (55 batting) to finish 297 runs in the lead.

Earlier, TN resumed at 159 for six and lost two quick wickets when skipper R. Sai Kishore and M. Mohammed perished, playing loose shots to pacer Yash Thakur.

AS IT HAPPENED | RANJI TROPHY QUARTERFINALS DAY 3 HIGHLIGHTS

Pradosh Ranjan Paul (48) and R. Sonu Yadav (32) then hit a few boundaries and did their best to take their side closer to Vidarbha’s total. Their 49-run stand for the ninth wicket took the southern side past 200 before Pradosh nicked Nachiket Bhute to the cordon. Thakare fittingly completed the formalities, removing Sonu Yadav to secure the crucial first-innings lead for his side.

NAGPUR, 10/02/2025. Vidharbha batsman Yash Rathod plays a shot during his unbeaten half century knock on the third day of the Ranji Trophy Cricket Match against Tamil Nadu at Nagpur on February 10, 2025.. Photo R V Moorthy / The Hindu
| Photo Credit:
R.V. MOORTHY RV/THE HINDU

Needing to strike early to stay alive in the contest, the TN bowlers were much more disciplined and kept picking up wickets at regular intervals. Skipper Sai Kishore led the charge, giving a double breakthrough immediately after lunch.

Later, Vijay Shankar struck off the first ball of the third session when he had Karun Nair caught at slip. And when Ajith Ram castled Akshay Wadkar with a slider, Vidarbha was in a spot of bother at 114 for five.

But the cushion of a comfortable lead allowed Harsh Dubey to go for the counterattack, and the left-hander started by slog-sweeping Sai Kishore for two sixes to wrest the momentum back. While Dubey was aggressive, Rathod held fort at one end and completed his half-century as the duo forged an unbroken 55-run alliance for the sixth wicket to keep the visitor at bay.