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Atharva Taide's unbeaten hundred and Yash Rathod's sensational knock saw Vidarbha begin the Irani Cup on a strong note against the Rest of India. The Ranji Trophy winners elected to bat first after winning the toss at the Vidarbha Association Cricket Stadium in Nagpur. Openers Taide and Aman Mokhade provided Vidarbha with a decent start and formed a stand of 40 runs before the latter lost his wicket for 19 runs.
The Rest of India bowling attack includes notable players like Akash Deep, Anshul Kamboj and Manav Suthar and it didn't take much time for them to pick up another wicket. This time, Suthar was the one to open his account and did so by rattling the wickets of Dhruv Shorey for 18 runs in the 23rd over. The left-arm spinner didn't stop there and took the big wicket of Danish Malewar for a duck just three deliveries later, restricting Vidarbha to 3/80 before Lunch.
However, while the wickets were falling from one end, Taide ensured that the bowlers weren't able to dismiss him from the other. He then went on to form a highly-important partnership with Yash Rathod. Notably, the latter had recently featured for the Central Zone in Duleep Trophy and had played an incredible knock of 194 in the final against South Zone to get his side to victory. The batter was also adjudged the Player of the Match in the final.
Taide and Rathod dominated against bowlers
The duo of Taide and Rathod piled on runs as the opposing bowlers struggled massively in front of them. Both of them would soon reach their half-centuries and the way they were batting, they looked set to smash hundreds eventually. However, while Taide did manage to reach triple figures, Rathod ended up losing his wicket for 91 to Suthar as the Rest of India finally broke the 184-run stand. This wicket left Vidarbha on 264/4 after 73.2 overs.
The Rajat Patidar-led side would take another wicket before the end of day's play as Vidarbha captain Akshay Wadkar departed for just five runs. It was Akash Deep who got his second wicket of the innings and did it just two overs before the conclusion of Day 1. Vidarbha finished-off the first day on 280/5 with Taide unbeaten on 118 and Yash Thakur batting on 4. Suthar has so far been the pick of the bowlers for Rest of India, recording figures of 3/64 in 23 overs. Vidarbha did manage to begin the match on a strong note, however not it remains to be seen if their batters can continue to perform well on the second day as well.
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