Visakhapatnam: Vidarbha declared their first innings on 272 for six with a healthy first innings lead of 122 runs to take firm control of their Ranji Trophy group B match against Orissa here, Saturday.
Orissa responded positively with 74 for no loss from 22 overs in their second innings when bad light stopped play on the penultimate day.
Debutant opener Sandeep Patnaik (40 batting, 61b, 7×4) and Ranjit Singh (27 batting, 74b, 3×4) were at the crease at stumps. Orissa still needed 48 runs to avoid a defeat.
Earlier, Vidarbha captain Faiz Fazal (99, 246b, 8×4, 1×6) was unfortunate falling one run short of his century as Biplab Samantray (1/31) taking the prized scalp.
Resuming on 182 for two after a rain delay, Vidharbha lost their first wicket of the day when Aditya Shanware (9) got out in the 12th over of the day. Deepak Behera (3/35) broke the overnight partnership.
Vidarbha stepped up the run-rate towards the end. Wicketkeeper batsman Jitesh Sharma (24, 50b, 5×4) also played a handy knock before his dismissal forced Fazal for a spirited declaration.
Brief Scores
Orissa 150 and 74 for no loss (Sandeep Patnaik 40 batting, Ranjit Singh 27 batting); Vidarbha 272 for 6 decl (Faiz Fazal 99; Deepak Behera 3/35).
Other Group-B matches
(At Vizianagaram): Sourashtra 430; Rajasthan 62 for 1 (Manender Singh 44 batting).
(At Vadodara): Assam 193 and 100 for 3 (Rahul Hazarika 40); Delhi 589 for 8 decl (Nitin Rana 146, Rishab Pant 146, Pradeep Sangwan 100 n o; Abu Nechim 5/106).
(At Delhi): Maharashtra 210 and 188 (Kedar Jadhav 56; Shahbaz Nadeem 3/43, Ashish Kumar 3/44) Jharkhand 306 and 56 for four.
All matches to continue, Sunday.
Press Trust of India