Ganesh, Wankhade shine as Vidarbha ahead by 79 runs

A breezy partnership of 88 runs between Ganesh Satish and Apoorv Wankhade helped Vidarbha grab a 79-run lead at the end of third day of their Ranji Trophy semifinal against Karnataka at the Eden Gardens on Tuesday.

Wankhade scored a 48-ball 49 with nine fours while Ganesh was batting on 71 as Vidarbha reached 195/4 in their second innings when bad lights stopped play.

Earlier in the morning, Karnataka resumed from 294/8 and were bundled out for 301, taking a lead of 116 runs. Skipper R Vinay Kumar (21), who showed courage despite ailing from a leg injury to forge a 69-run stand with Karun on the second day, couldn’t last long. 

Karun Nair, whose unbeaten 148 had rescued Karnataka from a precarious situation, could add only 5 runs and was out caught behind to Umesh Yadav,

Karnataka got off to a terrific start in their second essay with the ball and reduced Vidarbha for 36/2 by the tenth over. Vidarbha then lost their main man Wasim Jaffer (33) early in the post lunch session. The veteran right-hander, having survived a close call for leg before wicket in the morning of S Arvind’s bowling, played the same shot to get out. Playing across to an incoming delivery of Arvind, Jaffer was trapped in front. 

The Karnataka pacers then lost their rhythm and sent in at least one boundary ball every over and Ganesh and Wankhade was quick to dispatch them.

It was an attacking knock from Wankhade and he slammed some delightful cover drives. A big score was definite possibility for Wankhade but he threw away his wicket at the fag end of the session. The right hander played an uppish drive a touch early and offered a simple catch to Karnataka skipper R Vinay Kumar to hand Arvind his second wicket.

Ganesh was strong off his pads and struck powerful on drives en route to his half-century. His knock was a mix of patience and concentration and the former Karnataka batsman hit ten fours.

It was a much improved batting from Vidarbha, who had posted a paltry 185 in the first innings.