Vidarbha 308 for 5 (Malewar 79, Shorey 74, Rathod 47*, Dube 2-35, Mulani 2-44) vs Mumbai
Atharva Taide was dismissed early after the openers saw off the first spell from Shardul Thakur and Mohit Avasthi. Royston Dias, coming off a maiden five-wicket haul in the quarterfinal, struck second ball when he had Taide with a lifter that he gloved behind to wicketkeeper Akash Anand. Taide was looking to defend but decided to suddenly drop his gloves and let the ball pass with the split-second’s indecision proving costly.
Shorey got going with a succession of cover drives and ferocious cuts to help offset the early loss. He had a new No. 3 in Parth Rekhade for company, who was playing in only his second first-class game after Vidarbha decided to play an extra batter instead of an offspinner in Akshay Wakhare. The pair had put on 54 when Dube struck to send Rekhade back for 23.
Shorey and Malewar then put on 51, before Mulani had Shorey for his first wicket when he had him edging to Ajinkya Rahane off a deflection to slip for 74. In walked Nair at No. 5 as he slowly built the innings with Malewar, like he’d done in the quarter-final against Tamil Nadu.
Coming in on the back of two hundreds in two games, Nair offset the spin threat by sweeping and reverse sweeping Tanush Kotian, even as Malewar got into his groove to bring up a fifth first-class half-century. Malewar’s picking of lengths and judgment to play and leave deliveries, especially off the fast bowlers in the final session, was impressive.
Nair fell against the run of play in the final session for 45 when he wafted at a harmless Dube delivery to give him a second wicket, and soon after Malewar fell just as he may have elicited thoughts of a second first-class century when he was out jabbing at a Mulani delivery, only to feather one to the wicketkeeper.
Rathod and Wadkar then steadily built further, their unbroken partnership worth 47 when play ended with Vidarbha reasonably in a strong position despite their batting lapses at different times.
