At stumps, Vidarbha held a lead of 224 runs, after bowling out Rest of India and then beginning their second innings solidly. Bad light cut the day short after 51.5 overs of play at the Nagpur venue.

The day resumed with Rest of India at 142/5, still trailing Vidarbha’s first innings. Right away, Vidarbha struck — Aditya Thakare trapped Manav Suthar LBW with the very first delivery of the day. That dismissal set the tone: Rest of India, already under pressure, tilted further into trouble.

Rajat Patidar tried to rally, scoring a gritty fifty and offering resistance, but after he fell in the 66th over, the innings unraveled fast. Thakur was in control: eventually wrapping up the tail and finishing with figures of 4 for 66 to demolish the Rest of India lineup. The innings folded short of Vidarbha’s score, giving them a sizeable first-innings advantage of 128 runs.

Vidarbha’s Response & Consolidation

With the target in hand and momentum firmly with them, Vidarbha’s openers looked steady, navigating the early overs without losing a wicket. The start was cautious but assured. Rest of India’s reply managed one breakthrough in the 15th over: Manav Suthar dismissed Atharva Taide. That brought some hope of blemishing the start, but Vidarbha resisted pressure well.

Aman Mokhade got a start but couldn’t convert it; he was caught behind in the 24th over by Gurnoor Brar. However, a stabilizing partnership between Dhruv Shorey and Danish Malewar carried them safely through to tea. By Tea the score was 96/2 in the second innings, and though the third session barely got underway (only one over), the play was halted due to worsening light. The decision was made to call stumps early rather than risk play.

Why This Day Mattered

1. Bowling dominance — Yash Thakur’s four-wicket spell turned the tide decisively. His ability to pick up key wickets, especially in pressure overs, crippled Rest of India’s chase and cemented Vidarbha’s first-innings control.
2. Psychological edge — Getting Rest of India out with a lead puts Vidarbha in the driver’s seat. In multi-day contests, such leads often give the dominant side freedom to plan bold declarations or aggressive tactics.
3. Strong batting base to build on — Their second innings start was solid. Even with two down, 96/2 is a foundation to build toward pushing the lead further and making a daunting target.
4. Time management & conditions — With bad light encroaching, Vidarbha will want to ensure they use their remaining time efficiently in coming days to maximize advantage, declare smartly, and put pressure on Rest of India.