Ranji Trophy final: Akshay Wadkar maiden ton gives Vidarbha control over Delhi

Vidarbha wicketkeeper Akshay Wadkar’s unbeaten 133 caps unfancied team’s superb show as their batsmen added to former champions Delhi’s misery on Day 3 of the five-day affair.

First-time finalists Vidarbha continued to pile on the misery on former champions Delhi on the third day of the Ranji Trophy final. (Delhi vs Vidarbha, full cricket score, Day 3)

Vidarbha batsman Akshay Wadkar celebrates his century during the 3rd day of the Ranji Trophy final against Delhi in Indore on Sunday. (PTI)

After pace bowler Rajneesh Gurbani’s hat-trick pegged Delhi back on the second morning, Akshay Wadkar struck his maiden century, further demoralising the Delhi bowlers at the Holkar Stadium on Sunday.

Vidarbha were a commanding 528/7 at stumps, having built a 233-run lead going into the penultimate day of the title clash. Delhi’s dispirited bowlers managed to take just three wickets in 89 overs on Sunday, conceding 322 runs.

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Wadkar, a 23-year-old wicketkeeper playing his fifth first-class game, soaked the pressure and virtually batted Delhi out of the game with his unbeaten 133 (16x4, 1x6).

“I was waiting for this opportunity. This knock has given me a lot of confidence. Initially, it was a bit difficult but once I got set, it all went pretty well,” Wadkar told reporters after the day’s play.

Sarwate, Siddhesh shine

Resuming at 206/4 – still 89 behind Delhi’s first innings 295 all out – senior pro Wasim Jaffer was given a life in the first over of the day when Kunal Chandela dropped the Vidarbha No 3 at second slip off Navdeep Saini.

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The pace bowler continued to hit the right areas and finally gave Delhi the first breakthrough of the day, removing Akshay Wakhare for 17, edging to wicket-keeper Rishabh Pant.

Jaffer, 39, who looked set for a big one, became Saini’s next victim, reducing Vidarbha to 246/6 and raising Delhi’s hopes. The former India opener scored 78 (11x4).

But Aditya Sarwate and wicket-keeper Wadkar took over and continued to pile on the runs, helping Vidarbha take the lead before lunch.

The duo counter-attacked with a 169-run partnership, Vidarbha’s highest for the seventh wicket this season. Sarwate was dismissed for 79 when he nicked part-time spinner Nitish Rana to Rishabh Pant.

However, that didn’t stop Vidarbha’s flow of runs as Wadkar and Siddesh Neral took full advantage of the jaded fielding unit, putting on an unbeaten 113-run stand. Neral, who hit his maiden fifty, was 56 not out.

Injuries, dropped catches

Vidarbha’s cause was helped by poor catching by Delhi behind the stumps. Former captain Gautam Gambhir, who didn’t field after lunch due to a thumb injury, dropped Sarwate at first slip.

Delhi coach KP Bhaskar though allayed fears over Gambhir’s injury, saying “no major concern, he’ll be fit to bat.”

Pant also missed an easy stumping of Sarwate. Wadkar was twice dropped at short leg while Neral was reprieved twice when left-arm pace bowler Kulwant Khejroliya overstepped twice.

Things got worse for Delhi as Navdeep, who bowled 8.5 overs in the morning, could bowl just seven in the next two sessions due to cramp.