PANAJI
Wasim Jaffer cracked his 52nd First-Class century to put Vidarbha in driver's seat against Goa on the third day of their Ranji Trophy Group D match at GCA Academy ground, Porvorim, on Sunday. Goa lost two wickets and still need 169 runs to make the visitors bat again, with final day's play remaining.
After the first session was lost due to a drizzle and bad light, Vidarbha resumed from overnight 199/2 with Wasim Jaffer starting the day on 70 runs off 229 balls. The legendary First-Class batsman, who is
also the record holder for most centuries in Ranji Trophy history, played positively after his extremely cautious start on Saturday.
Jaffer added 88 runs off 140 deliveries to force the pace for the visitors, who are close to sealing the place in Ranji Trophy quarter-finals from the group. The 39-year-old hit 12 boundaries and two sixes in his unbeaten 158-run knock. Ganesh Satish also played a very important innings as he struck 101 not out off 125 balls with 7 boundaries and three sixes. Their unfinished fourth-wicket stand was worth 171 runs.
Earlier, Jaffer was involved in an 87-run stand with S Shrivastava (45) for the third wicket. With time ticking by, Vidarbha declared their innings at 427/3 in 143 overs. Amogh Desai picked up the only Vidarbha wicket to fall on the day.
Goa came out to bat in the second innings under a deficit of 188 runs. The hosts needed a good start but opener Sumiran Amonkar (4) failed for the second time in the match, becoming left-arm spinner Aditya Sarvate's victim once again. Off-spinner Akshay Wakhare then trapped Prathamesh Gawas LBW for four, reducing Goa to 13/2.
The man of the moment, Swapnil Asnodkar, who had reached 10,000 career runs in domestic cricket in the first innings, is still at the crease with five runs to his name. The 33-year-old will have to play a big role if the hosts have to save the match on Monday. Vedant Naik (6) is the other not out batsman.
Goa coach Prakash Mayekar admits that Vidarbha are in a great position. "The first session tomorrow will be very important. We should not lose more wickets. We have to believe in ourselves and play positive cricket,"
said Mayekar.
Jaffer added 88 runs off 140 deliveries to force the pace for the visitors, who are close to sealing the place in Ranji Trophy quarter-finals from the group. The 39-year-old hit 12 boundaries and two sixes in his unbeaten 158-run knock. Ganesh Satish also played a very important innings as he struck 101 not out off 125 balls with 7 boundaries and three sixes. Their unfinished fourth-wicket stand was worth 171 runs.
Earlier, Jaffer was involved in an 87-run stand with S Shrivastava (45) for the third wicket. With time ticking by, Vidarbha declared their innings at 427/3 in 143 overs. Amogh Desai picked up the only Vidarbha wicket to fall on the day.
Goa came out to bat in the second innings under a deficit of 188 runs. The hosts needed a good start but opener Sumiran Amonkar (4) failed for the second time in the match, becoming left-arm spinner Aditya Sarvate's victim once again. Off-spinner Akshay Wakhare then trapped Prathamesh Gawas LBW for four, reducing Goa to 13/2.
The man of the moment, Swapnil Asnodkar, who had reached 10,000 career runs in domestic cricket in the first innings, is still at the crease with five runs to his name. The 33-year-old will have to play a big role if the hosts have to save the match on Monday. Vedant Naik (6) is the other not out batsman.
Goa coach Prakash Mayekar admits that Vidarbha are in a great position. "The first session tomorrow will be very important. We should not lose more wickets. We have to believe in ourselves and play positive cricket,"
said Mayekar.
