Vidarbha finished the day at 343 for 6, giving a lead of 261 runs over Madhya Pradesh.
Yash Rathod scored an unbeaten 97, while Aman Mokhade and Akshay Wadkar contributed with patient half-centuries, helping Vidarbha gain the upper hand in the semi-final of the 2023-24 Ranji Trophy against Madhya Pradesh.
Despite conceding the first-innings lead, Vidarbha ended the second day trailing MP by 69 runs. However, the trio of Mokhade, Wadkar, and Rathod led Vidarbha's comeback. They took Vidarbha to 343 for 6 at stumps on day three and secured a 261-run lead in Nagpur.
The day began with Vidarbha's nightwatchman, Akshay Wakhar, falling in just the second over of the day to fast bowler Anubhav Agarwal. Dhruv Shorey and Mokhade then added 73 runs for the third wicket, taking Vidarbha into the lead.
Kumar Kartikeya removed Shorey for 40 off 65. Mokhade, playing his second first-class game, recorded his fifty but was dismissed soon after by Kartikeya, who trapped him lbw for 59.
Karun Nair followed up his first innings 63 with a sprightly 43-ball 38, but when he was clean bowled by Kulwant Khejroliya, Vidarbha was still precariously placed at 161 for 5 with a lead of just 79.
Rathod and Captain Wadkar steadily built up Vidarbha's runs. They joined forces in the 42nd over and kept the MP bowlers at bay for 46.3 overs, adding 158 runs. When Wadkar fell for 77 late in the day, Vidarbha's lead had swelled to 237. He struck eight fours in his 139-ball effort before being dismissed by Agarwal.
Rathod, however, continued to perform well. The left-hander has had a good Ranji season. Although he did not play the initial games, he has struck four fifties in eight innings since returning to the side. In his 165-ball stay, he cracked 12 fours and will hope to record his maiden first-class century on day four.
Vidarbha had a bit of a flourish in the last two overs of the third day, accumulating 24 runs. Aditya Sarwate cracked an unbeaten 14 off eight balls with three fours. MP, with Agarwal and Kartikeya taking two wickets each, was restricted to five on the third day.