Taide 143, Vidarbha Take Big Lead in Irani Cup

Vidarbha completed a first innings of 342 and bowled Rest of India out for 214 to take a 128‑run first-innings lead and an overall advantage of 224 by stumps on Day 3 at the VCA Stadium, Nagpur. Atharva Taide added to his earlier hundred to reach 143, and Yash Rathod’s 91 helped lay the platform in Vidarbha’s first innings. Pacer Yash Thakur was the chief destroyer with a match‑turning 4/66, supported by Parth Rekhade, Harsh Dubey and Aditya Thakare as Rest of India’s middle and lower order were dismantled. Rajat Patidar (66) and Abhimanyu Easwaran (52) were the main resistance for Rest of India. Vidarbha were 96/2 at stumps (Aman Mokhade 37; Dhruv Shorey unbeaten), with eight wickets in hand and two days remaining, well placed to push for an outright win.