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Madhya Pradesh's premier pacer Avesh Khan remained wicketless on Day 3 of the Ranji Trophy 2023-24 semifinal against Vidarbha as skipper Akshay Wadkar and Yash Rathod's 158-run partnership for the sixth wicket brought the hosts back in the game. Rathod remained unbeaten for 97 as Vidarbha had a 261-run lead in the bag with four wickets in hand at the end of Day 3.
Mokhade hits fifty
Early on Day 3, Anubhav Agarwal dismissed nightwatchman Akshay Wakhare. Dhruv Shorey and Aman Mokhade were not much troubled by the pacers. The left-arm spinner Kumar Kartikeya got the breakthrough with the wicket of Shorey. The opener scored 40 runs from 65 balls including six fours. Mokhade reached his half-century from 82 balls. Karun Nair looked to score quickly and found boundaries. Once again Kartikeya got the breakthrough. Mokhhade got out lbw. He scored 59 runs from 100 balls including seven fours.
Rathod, Wadkar frustrate MP bowlers
Nair could not do much damage and got bowled by left-arm pacer Kulwant Khejroliya who came round the wicket to beat his bat. Nair scored 38 runs from 45 balls including five fours. Skipper Wadkar joined Rathod in the middle. MP bowlers attacked but the batting conditions got better compared to the first two days when there was not enough bounce on the pitch. Wadkar slowed down but did not succumb to the dot ball pressure. The duo frustrated MP bowlers. Rathod completed his half-century from 85 balls. He reached his half-century from 95 balls.
The partnership was going well but Agarwal with the new ball got the wicket of Wadkar as second slip fielder Harsh Gawli took a stunner. He scored 77 runs from 139 balls including eight fours. In the last two overs of the day's play, five boundaries were hit. Three of these boundaries came off Aditya Sarwate's bat. Rathod remained unbeaten for 97 off 165 balls including 12 fours. The 23-year-old who made his first-class debut last year took Vidarbha's score to 343/6 on board and a 261-run lead in the bag.
Vidarbha in control
The game has tilted in Vidarbha’s favour after Day 3. They will be looking to wrap up Vidarbha’s innings in the first session of Day 4 as the ball is still new. They will be happy chasing a target below 300. On the other hand, Rathod would look to bat with the tail and get the target around 400.
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