NAGPUR: Vidarbha batters sent Haryana on a leather hunt for the second consecutive day. If Rohit Binkar scored a ton on Day-1, Danish Malewar notched up 110 in Hisar on Sunday.
The dual century effort combined with allrounders — Dharmedra Thakur (93 n.o), Ashit Singh (64), Gaurav Farde (46) — contributions have taken Vidarbha to a mammoth 637 for 8 at stumps on Day-2 of the Cooch Behar Trophy encounter. This is the second 600+ total for Vidarbha in the tournament. From here, Vidarbha will press for an innings victory.
When Vidarbha began the second day, Rohit (180; 298b, 26x4, 5x6) was unbeaten on 150, while Danish was on 81. Danish (110; 150b, 19x4, 1x6) made his intent clear from the first ball. The right-hander rushed to his second century of the tournament and was leaving no room for bowlers to find their rhythm.
Danish and Rohit were involved in a 181-run partnership, of which 110 came from the latter's bat. Rohit from the other end was relatively cautious, going for his first double century. However, a lapse of concentration undid him. Vidarbha were 407 for 5 at Rohit's exit.
From here, Vidarbha rode on Thakur, Ashit and Gaurav. Since Vidarbha were eyeing a big total on the batters-friendly wicket, they showed no hurry and played the balls on merit. These three and Jagjot Sasan's 31 helped Vidarbha add 230 runs more after Rohit got out. Jagjot and Ashit added 53 for the 6th wicket.
Dharmendra and Ashit combined well for 82 for the 7th, while Dharmendra and Gaurav, who got out in the last over of the day, weaved a 95-run union for the 8th wicket. The eighth wicket partnership in the last session frustrated the hosts more than any other partnerships.
BRIEF SCORES: Vidarbha (overnight 338-2) 637 for 8 in 179.5 overs (Rohit Binkar 180, Danish Malewar 110, Dharmendra Thakur 93 n.o, Tushar Surywanshi 81, Ashit Singh 64; Samant Jakhar 2-77, Yash Vardhan 2-105) vs Haryana
