Wasim Jaffer anchored Vidarbha to a solid 289 for two on the first day with an unbeaten 113-run knock against Rest of India in Irani Cup 2017-18. The seasoned campaigner ensured that the team stayed on course for a big first innings total with an elegantly compiled knock after Faiz Fazal and SR Ramaswamy set the stage with a 101-run opening stand.
After electing to bat, the Vidarbha batsmen displayed patience in building their innings. Fazal and Ramaswamy bided their time at the crease to see off the first couple of hours and carefully built a platform to set up the innings. The youngster, who has been a vital cog in the Vidarbha line-up during the Ranji Trophy, played a sensible innings until he returned to the pavilion towards the end of the first session. Having done the hard yards, Ramaswamy departed hitting Jayant Yadav straight to mid-wicket for 53 off 111 balls.
Jaffer then joined Fazal in taking Vidarbha to Lunch at 126 for one. The pair dominated the second session as they continued to attack the ROI bowlers. While the No 3 bat batted with ease against an attack comprising Ravichandran Ashwin, the skipper too kept chipping away at the attack to build on the foundation. The Jaffer – Fazal partnership had added 117 runs for the second wicket until the opener was sent back at the stroke of Tea by Ashwin. Fazal departed sweeping the spinner and was caught by Navdeep Saini.
With Ganesh Satish, Jaffer then saw the team through to stumps. The highest run-getter in Irani Cup brought up his 53rd century as he kept the balance tipped in Vidarbha’s favour. The partnership for third wicket was unbroken on 71 at the end of the day’s play.
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