Hanuma Vihari became the first batsman to score three consecutive hundreds in the Irani Cup by smashing his second hundred for the Rest of India team in the ongoing first-class encounter against Ranji champions, Vidarbha. 

Rest of India right-hander had helped his team retain the title last year with a 183-run knock at the VCA ground in Nagpur and has now struck 114 and 153*(so far) versus the same opponents.  

Vihari also matched the historic feat of Shikhar Dhawan, who made the then Ranji Trophy winners Rajasthan toil hard with his twin hundreds in the 2011 Irani Cup game. 

In the first innings, Vihari stitched a 125-run stand with Mayank Agarwal to ensure a good fighting total of 330 for his team. He then followed that up with an outstanding third-wicket 221 runs partnership alongside skipper Ajinkya Rahane, who himself made a valiant 87. 

While the 114 contained 11 boundaries and two sixes, this knock in the second innings has seen 18 fours and two maximums so far. 

ROI is currently batting on 298/3 and has a third innings lead of 203 runs over Vidarbha, which had surpassed their opponent's total with a score of 425/10. 

(Inputs from PTI)