Rajasthan too strong for Vidarbha

Outplaying their opponents in all departments of the game, Rajasthan completed an easy eight wicket victory over Vidarbha in the Central Zone Ranji Trophy one day match at the Jamia Millia ground in New Delhi on Friday.

Batting first, Vidarbha were restricted to 191 for eight in 50 overs. Openers AV Deshpande (35) and AS Manohar (53) gave them a good start putting on 62 runs off 17.3 overs. The momentum was maintained with Manohar and AS Naidu (21) adding 48 runs for the third wicket off 9.3 overs. But of the remaining batsmen, only SA Khare put up a show of defiance by scoring an unbeaten 40 off 37 balls with three hits to the fence. Manohar, who was fourth out at 130, faced 115 balls and hit four boundaries and two sixes.

Rajasthan, in quest of a moderate target, were put firmly on the road to victory by a first wicket stand of 87 runs off 23.2 overs between N Doru (28) and AS Jain (71). Victory then became almost certain, thanks to a second wicket partnership of 48 runs off nine overs between Jain and RJ Kanwat (58 not out). Jain was run out off the 101st ball he faced. He hit nine fours. Kanwat, who faced 71 balls and hit four of them to the ropes, and skipper Gagan Khoda (20) then steered Rajasthan to victory with 5.4 overs to spare.