NAGPUR: The problem that haunted Vidarbha in Vijay Hazare Trophy reared its ugly head again. The conundrum that the side had suffered in the one-dayers was that their key batters got out after getting their eyes in. The Faiz Fazal-led side were in a similar situation that cost them dear on Tuesday.
As many as five main batters got out after getting a good start. As a result, Vidarbha were bowled out for 264 runs against Tripura on Day 1 of their Ranji Trophy encounter at the VCA stadium in Civil Lines. In reply, Tripura were 3 for no loss at stumps. Tripura's pacer Ajay Sarkar (18.3-3-74-6) troubled Vidarbha with 6-for.
When Vidarbha were reduced to 117 for 4 from 116 for 1 in the second session, Apoorv Wankhade (47; 48b, 6x4, 1x6) and Akshay Wadkar (43; 74b, 7x4) lifted the team with a 86-run stand for the fifth wicket.
Apoorv was at his attacking best with a strike rate of 98. The six he hit off left-arm Pravez Sultan drew a loud applause from the stands. The Apoorv-Wadkar duo had taken Vidarbha past 200 during the duo's 97-ball effort.
They had forced Tripura into defensive mode. Tripura sent their point fielder to the boundary for both of them and even had a long-off when Apoorv came on strike. Apoorv was confidently heading towards his half-century when he was trapped plumb in front of the wicket.
In the absence of Apoorv, the onus was now on Wadkar. The powerful sweep shot that Wadkar played in the 57th over was a reflection of him batting at his best. Wadkar was taking his side towards a respectable total when he got out playing one on to his stumps in the 66th over while attempting a square-cut off Sarkar.
It was the shot which fetched him maximum runs before he got out. The vice-captain walked back at a snail's pace, regretting the way he got out. In the next 17.3 overs, Vidarbha lost 4 wickets and were bowled out.
Aditya Sarwate (35 off 73b) took the baton from Wadkar. Aditya and Akshay Wakhare (18 n.o off 51b) added 40 runs from 83 balls with no bowler troubling them. However, their union was broken when Aditya got out in Wadkar's style, while playing a cover drive.
Earlier, Vidarbha lost their skipper Faiz Fazal (18) after winning the toss. R Sanjay (39; 109b, 7x4) and Atharva Taide (53; 83b, 11x4) took their side to 116 with a 96-run partnership which was broken with Sanjay's departure.
BRIEF SCORES: Vidarbha 264 all out in 88.3 overs (Atharva Taide 53, Apoorv Wankhade 47, Akshay Wadkar 43, Aditya Sarwate 35; Ajay Sarkar 6-74) vs Tripura 3 for no loss in 2 overs
