Nagpur: Chasing Assam's first innings score of 299, hosts Vidarbha were comfortably placed at 114 for three after the end of the second day's play of the plate division Ranji Trophy match at the VCA ground here on Sunday.
The home team survived early hiccups, losing three wickets for 79, before recovering through an unbeaten fourth wicket stand of thirty five between Ranjit Paradkar (38 not out) and Shalabh Srivastav (24 not out). Assam medium pacer Ranjeet Mali (2-29) made early inroads before the home team batsman showed defiance.
Earlier, resuming at an overnight score of 183-4, Assam began shakily losing Jacob Martin (71) to Mohd Hashim with the addition of just two runs in the first over of the day.
Wickets fell regularly thereafter, with the sole exception of S Purukaustha (51), who showed great application and defiance. Tail-ender Arlen Kanwar chipped in with a useful 26 to swell his team's total to one short of three hundred off 120.3 overs.
Vidarbha left-arm-spinner Madhusudhan Acharya (3-50) along with medium pacer Mohd Hashim (3-79) and Umesh Yadav (3-58) restricted the visitors innings on Sunday.
Brief scores:
Assam 1st innings: 299 off 120.3 overs. (Jacob Martin 71, S Purukaustha 51, Mohd Hashim 3-79, Madhusudhan Achraya 3-50, Umesh Yadav 3-58).
Vidarbha 1st innings: 114-3 off 59 overs (Ranjit Paradkar 38 not out, Shalabh Srivastav 24, Ranjeet Mali 2-29).