Ranji Trophy 2023-24 Quarterfinals: Taide ton places Vidarbha on high towards Karnataka on day one

Patient knocks from Atharva Taide (109, 244b, 16×4, 1×6) and Yash Rathod (93, 157b, 12×4) put Vidarbha on high on the primary day of its Ranji Trophy quarterfinal outing towards Karnataka at VCA Stadium (Civil Lines) right here on Friday.

A 184-run second-wicket stand between Taide and Rathod laid the platform for Vidarbha to succeed in 261 for 3.

Opener Taide stood like a rock to file his second century of the match. Taide was blissful to bide his time, leaving balls exterior off and defending all threats with a straight bat. He took an old-school strategy to the lengthy format – merely bat for time. The southpaw used timing and sharp footwork to place away the unfastened deliveries.

“The longer you bat, the better. This is the game plan of our entire team,” Taide stated.

The 23-year-old was dismissed within the 81st over, trapped leg-before by left-arm spinner Hardik Raj. Taide obtained two lives, on 26 and 44, when V. Koushik and the slips cordon put down possibilities.

Rathod performed with extra freedom, particularly when the spinners got here on. It took a sensible ploy to interrupt the partnership. Pacer Vidwath Kaverappa stationed Nikin Jose at backward square-leg and bowled bouncers. Rathod fell for the lure, hooking one to Jose.

Taide, nevertheless, couldn’t be lured in. “I was ready to take blows on my body, break my bones, fall down, but I was not ready to fall for the bouncer trap,” Taide stated.

Karun Nair, who solely lately shifted allegiance from Karnataka to Vidarbha, performed a number of pleasing cowl drives in his unbeaten 30. Late within the day, Karun pushed laborious to a size ball and lobbed it again to Kaushik. The quick bowler, shifting to his left on the comply with by way of, caught his proper hand out however couldn’t maintain on to the catch.

Only a number of fast wickets within the first session on Saturday can preserve Karnataka alive.

Ambidextrous Dheeraj catches eyeballs

Karnataka’s ambidextrous spinner Dheeraj Gowda in motion.
| Photo Credit:
ASHWIN ACHAL

Karnataka unleashed a singular phenomenon in ambidextrous Dheeraj Gowda on the primary day.

Dheeraj, making his First Class debut, began by bowling right-arm off-spin to southpaws Taide and Rathod. Later, to right-handers Nair and Akshay Wadkar, the 17-year-old shifted to left-arm orthodox spin.

The teenager was proficient with each guards. Dheeraj went wicketless in his 14 overs on Friday, however actually peaked curiosity along with his uncommon talent.