NAGPUR: Atharva Taide posted the most challenging First Class century of his career while Yash Rathod notched up his highest Ranji Trophy score on Friday. Together, the two 23-year-old southpaws put Vidarbha ahead of Karnataka on Day 1 of the quarterfinal.
The team management’s plan of batting long was perfectly executed by the batters as Vidarbha finished on 261 for 3 at VCA’s Civil Lines Stadium. On the other hand, the Karnataka camp were left ruing missed chances and the pacers' inability to inflict more damage in favourable conditions.
It turned out to be good toss to lose for Vidarbha, despite opener Dhruv Shorey (12;26b;2x4) being trapped in front of the wicket in the eighth over by an incoming delivery from Koushik V. Post the Shorey dismissal, Karnataka bowlers didn’t get a chance to celebrate for almost two sessions.
The two youngsters, Taide (109;244b;16x4;1x6) and Rathod (93;157b;12x4), kept the Karnataka pace battery — having combined scalp count of 76 this season — at bay for almost 52 overs. The second wicket partnership started when the greenish pitch was providing ample assistance to the pacers. By the time it ended, after adding 184 runs, the stand had wrested the initiative from the rivals.
Taide played and missed, took blows, got a reprieve, but importantly didn’t give up. Taide grinded it out for 244 balls, his longest stay at the crease while posting a 100-plus knock.
Taide, a fluent and busy player, wasn’t his usual self. The trademark timing and placement wasn’t there. Against the pacers, there were many plays and misses. Against spinners, he failed to hit full tosses, half valleys and short deliveries in the gap.
Rathod, on other hand, played a confident knock. Assured footwork, accurate shot selection, impeccable timing, he played out a complete innings. Rathor's free-flowing scoring helped Taide when the opener was finding it hard to put the ball in the gaps.
A misfield in a Hardik Raj over, 54th of the innings, which went for a straight boundary, changed things for Taide. He swept the next ball to another boundary. Two overs later, Taide gave charge to part-timer Samarth for the first six of the match. A couple of more boundaries took Taide to the 80s with Vidabrha crossing the 200-run mark.
At the other end, Rathod hardly put a foot wrong as he moved to 93. In the last over before tea, Rathod made his first mistake which proved to be his last. Rathod fell to the short-ball trap of Vidwath Kaverappa in the 60th over. Despite fielders placed at catching positions, Rathod pulled Kaverappa only to give a catch to Nikin Jose at square leg. Playing his sixth FC match, Rathod missed out on his maiden century.
Post Rathod’s dismissal, Taide went back to his watchful approach in the last session. After posting his third FC century, Taide missed a Hardik Raj delivery and was adjudged lbw. Karun Nair, started with a cover driven four, and hit four more boundaries to finish the day unbeaten on 30 along with Vidarbha skipper Akshay Wadkar (2;11b).
BRIEF SCORES
