Vidarbha's Batting Collapse Turns Tables in Anantapur
In a dramatic turn of events on Day 3 of the Elite Group 'A' Ranji Trophy clash at Anantapur, defending champions Vidarbha handed the initiative to Andhra after a batting collapse that saw them bowled out for 191. Starting the day with a 71-run lead, Vidarbha failed to capitalize on their advantage, allowing Andhra to position themselves for a potential victory that could propel them to the top of the group standings.
Early Wickets Derail Vidarbha's Plans
The day began with high hopes for Vidarbha, but their batting lineup crumbled under pressure. Medium pacer K Saiteja struck early, ending nightwatchman Aditya Thakare's brief vigil by rattling the stumps in the fifth over. The very next over proved disastrous as Nitish Kumar Reddy delivered a double blow, dismissing Atharva Taide and Danish Malewar on consecutive balls. This left Vidarbha reeling at 10 for 3, with Malewar enduring a particularly tough match, registering ducks in both innings.
Brief Resistance and Subsequent Collapse
Aman Mokhade and R Samarth provided some stability with a 92-run partnership for the fourth wicket, steering Vidarbha away from immediate danger. Both batters scored predominantly straight down the ground as Andhra's bowlers maintained a full length in search of swing. However, left-arm spinner Saurabh Kumar broke the stand by dismissing Mokhade with a skiddy delivery that kept low and hit the stumps. Mokhade's brisk 51 off 65 balls, featuring six boundaries, came to an abrupt end.
Vidarbha reached lunch at 112 for 4, with first-innings centurion Yash Rathod joining Samarth. The second session saw Saiteja return to remove Samarth, who made 47 off 76 balls, and later trap Rohit Binkar, the last recognized batter, reducing Vidarbha to 142 for 6. The tail failed to wag, with Harsh Dubey, Darshan Nalkande, and Nachiket Bhute falling quickly. Rathod, attempting to accelerate, was caught at deep point after scoring 56 off 87 balls, including seven fours and a six.
Andhra's Strong Response
Set a target of 259 runs, Andhra finished the day strongly at 93 for 1 in 26 overs. Shaik Rasheed led the charge with an unbeaten breezy 50 off 65 balls, striking eight boundaries, while KS Bharat provided solid support with 27 not out off 79 balls. This partnership has given Andhra a realistic chance to chase down the total and claim the top spot in Group A.
Group Standings and Implications
Currently, Vidarbha sit atop Group A with 25 points, while Andhra are close behind with 22 points. A victory for Andhra could see them overtake Vidarbha, making the final day's play crucial for both teams. The match has turned into a tense battle for supremacy, with Andhra now holding the upper hand thanks to Vidarbha's batting failures.
Brief Scores:
- Vidarbha: 295 all out & 191 all out in 89.3 overs (Yash Rathod 56; Aman Mokhade 51, R Samarth 47; K Saiteja 4-28, Nitish Kumar Reddy 2-29, Saurabh Kumar 2-47)
- Andhra: 228 all out & 93 for 1 in 26 overs (Shaik Rasheed batting 50, KS Bharat batting 27; Nachiket Bhute 1-21)
- Andhra need 166 more runs to win with 9 wickets in hand.
