NAGPUR: Vidarbha mainstay Danish Malewar is not leaving any opportunity to score big whenever he gets his eyes in. Danish extended the template he is following to yet another day. After getting into the groove on Saturday, he literally tore apart the Bihar attack and achieved a rare feat by a Vidarbha batter by scoring 300 not out at a strike rate of 88.76 in Patna on Sunday.
This is Danish's (300 n.o; 338b, 32x4, 6x6) third century in the current season that includes a 262-run knock in the season opener. Courtesy Danish's fireworks, Vidarbha posted a massive 691 for 5 declared. Resuming at the overnight score of 411 for 3, Vidarbha added 280 runs in around 45 overs. In reply, Bihar were 125 for 4 at stumps on Day-2.
The right-hander Danish has now become the highest run-getter in the tournament with 91 as his strike rate. The no. 4 of Vidarbha has notched up 704 runs in 5 innings with an average of 176 so far.
A player of City Gymkhana, Danish is only the second player after Atharva Taide to score a triple ton across formats. The southpaw Atharva had scored 313 not out in the final against Madhya Pradesh in the Cooch Behar Trophy in 2018-19, which Vidarbha won under Usman Ghani.
Danish, who is consistent from the last couple of seasons, scored 164 runs in boundaries including a six each against the Bihar pacers. The flick off his pads and wristy slogs in long-on and mid-wicket region that the City Gymkhana batter displayed even had the rival dugout in awe.
The highlight of the second morning was a couple of cover and straight drives from Danish's bat against both pacers and spinners. After completing his 150 on Day-1, Danish began the second day at his overnight score of 159 off 211 balls.
This was followed by Danish's flamboyant batting that saw him gathering 141 runs in just 127 balls. He added 13 boundaries and four sixes over it to his overnight count.
"If Danish continues in such a manner in the upcoming matches, his prospect of playing for India under-19 would increase," said a VCA official.
The official was talking with reference to the last season, where the triple centurion had scored well and even went on to play for the u-19 challenger trophy, which was an audition of the World Cup.
Danish was involved in two big partnerships against Bihar. With Rohit Binkar (217), Danish added 337 for the third wicket on the first day. Later, he added 140 runs for the sixth wicket with Jagjot Sasan (79). Danish was involved in an 83-run stand for the 4th wicket with Mohd Faiz, and a 57-run union for the 6th wicket with Ashit Singh before they decided to declare.
BRIEF SCORES: Vidarbha (overnight 411-3) 691 for 5 decl. in 135.2 overs (Danish Malewar 300 n.o, Rohit Binkar 217, Jagjot Sasan 79; P Chaubey 2-142) vs Bihar 125 for 4 in 40 overs (Harshit 44 n.o; Pratham Maheshwari 3-34)
