Indian middle-order batsman played a defiant knock on Day 1 against Vidarbha
Hanuma Vihari played an outstanding knock of 114 to ensure Rest of India a good first innings total of 330 in their Irani Cup encounter against Vidarbha.
Indian middle-order batsman struck 11 fours and two sixes through the course of his effort versus the Ranji Trophy champions.
Vihari came into bat when ROI lost their opener Anmolpreet Singh for an individual score of just 15. From 46/1, he stretched together a magnificent 125-run partnership with his international teammate Mayank Agarwal, who himself scored a valiant 95 off 134 balls.
Mayank later went back to began a collapse that saw skipper Ajinkya Rahane (13), Shreyas Iyer (19), wicketkeeper Ishan Kishan (2) and all-rounder Krishnappa Gowtham (7) play some really disappointing shots to leave their team vulnerably placed at 258/7.
But Vihari continued as he enjoyed fine support from lower-order batsman Rahul Chahar (22) and Ankit Rajpoot (25). Though he eventually got out in the slips by Vidarbha captain Faiz Fazal off left-arm spinner Aditya Sarwate.
Having lost the toss after missing their two key players - Wasim Jaffer and Umesh Yadav - Vidarbha needed a good bowling effort. And that's exactly what Rajneesh Gurbani (2/58), Sarwate (3/99) and Akshay Wakhare (3/62) provided.
(Inputs from PTI)