In a dramatic turn of events at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur, medium-pacer Shivam Mavi delivered a career-best bowling performance to help Uttar Pradesh restrict Vidarbha to 237 in their first innings on the second day of their Ranji Trophy pool league match on Friday. This effort leveled the scores after UP had posted the same total in their first innings, setting up a tense contest.
Mavi's Magical Spell Disrupts Vidarbha's Momentum
Resuming from an overnight score of 33 without loss, Vidarbha were poised to comfortably surpass UP's total. However, Mavi struck repeatedly, reducing the hosts to a precarious 95 for 6 in just 31.3 overs. His figures of 7 for 59 not only marked his best performance in first-class cricket but also surpassed his previous best of six wickets in a Ranji match, proving decisive in halting Vidarbha's progress.
Vidarbha's Recovery and Heartbreaking Collapse
A valiant recovery effort was mounted by Danish Malewar and Bhute, who added 126 runs for the seventh wicket in 162 balls. Both batsmen contributed 61 runs each, steadying the innings and pushing Vidarbha close to UP's total. The partnership ended at 221 when Mavi dismissed Malewar for a well-made 80 off 117 balls, which included 10 fours and a six.
With Vidarbha needing just 13 runs to gain a crucial first-innings lead, hopes rested on Bhute. However, at 233, Bhute was run out following a direct hit by Kartik Yadav. He scored 63 off 85 balls, hitting four boundaries and three sixes. The innings concluded at 237 when YR Thakur was caught by Aryan Juyal off Mavi for 5, denying Vidarbha the lead and leaving the match evenly poised.
UP's Second Innings and Coach's Insights
In their second innings, UP reached 75 for 2 at stumps, with skipper Aryan Juyal unbeaten on 35 and Aaditya Sharma on 25. The innings began shakily, mirroring their first, as openers Abhishek (0) and Madhav Kaushik (9) departed early, leaving the visitors at 17 for 2. Abhishek was trapped in front by R Thakur, while Madhav fell to Bhute.
For UP, besides Mavi's seven-wicket haul, Karan and Kartik Tyagi claimed one wicket each. Later, UP coach Arvind Kapoor highlighted that a dropped catch of Malewar off Kartik Tyagi cost his side an advantage. He remarked, "The level scores have opened up the match, and the remaining two days should be interesting."
Match Context and Implications
The match against table-toppers Vidarbha is inconsequential for UP as they are already out of the knockout race. With neither side securing a first-innings lead, Vidarbha now need an outright win to earn full points, failing which the teams will share two points each. This adds pressure on both sides as they head into the final days of play.
Brief scores: UP first innings: 237; second innings: 75 for 2 (Aryan Juyal 35 not out, Aaditya Sharma 25; Y Thakur 1/16, Bhute 1/14). Vidarbha first innings: 237 (A Mokhade 28, Danish Malewar 80, Bhute 63; Shivam Mavi 7/59).
