SPO-RANJI-UTTARAKHAND

Reigning champions Vidarbha were

in complete control of their Ranji Trophy quarter-final

against Uttarakhand here after taking a huge 274-run first

innings lead and then striking big blows later on the fourth

and penultimate day of the game Friday.

At stumps, Uttarakhand were struggling for survival at

152 for 5 in their second essay with India pacer Umesh Yadav

having grabbed three of those wickets in a fiery exhibition of

fast bowling.

The visitors were adrift by 122 runs with five wickets

in hand and would need to bat out of their skin to force a

draw which will, however, be enough for Vidarbha to enter the

semis.

Earlier, resuming at their overnight score of 559/6,

Vidarbha added 70 runs to their tally before their innings

ended with a massive tally of 629.

After Wasim Jaffer (206) and opener Sanjay Ramaswamy

(141), Aditya Sarwate became the third centurion for the hosts

when he made 102 in 185 balls, striking 11 fours, after

resuming at his overnight score of 67.

Batting for the second time, openers Vineet Saxena

(27) and Karnaveer Kaushal (76) gave the visitors a steady

start by putting up 72 for the first wicket.

But Yadav trapped Saxena in front to end the

partnership and Vidarbha bowlers came on top.

One-down Vaibhav Bhatt (0) became Yadav's second

victim, while Kaushal was cleaned up by slow-left arm orthodox

bowler Sarvate as Uttarakhand were reduced to 3 for 152.

Avneesh Sudha, who hit a valiant 91 in the first

essay, could not repeat the feat and fell for 28 and then

Vidarbha took another wicket at the fag end to reduce the

Ranji debutant to 152 for 5.

When stumps were drawn, first innings centurion

Saurabh Rawat (0 not out) was at the crease.

Brief scores: Uttarakhand 355 and 152 for 5 (Karnaveer

Kaushal 76, Avneesh Sudha 28; Umesh Yadav 3-22) versus

Vidarbha 629 (Wasim Jaffer 206, Sanjay Ramaswamy 141, Aditya

Sarvate 102; D K Sharma 3-101).