Aditya Sarwate (6/64) and Akshay Wakhare (4/37) shared 10 wickets between them to bundle out Assam for 160 in their second innings and give Vidarbha a good chance of posting a win, having finished day three on 88 for no loss, chasing 213 in a Group A Ranji Trophy tie here today.
Vidarbha need just 125 more runs with 10 wickets intact on the fourth and final day tomorrow.
Although Vidarbha had conceded a 52-run first innings lead after getting all out for 154 in reply to Assam's first essay total of 206, the home team bowlers struck back hard today to give their team a genuine chance of registering an outright victory.
Resuming on 36 for two in their second innings, Assam kept losing wickets at regular interval today even as spin duo of Sarwate and Wakhare wrecked havoc. Lower order batsman Swarupam Purkayastha top scored with 35.
Vidarbha, in their second innings, got off to an ideal start with openers Faiz Fazal and Wasim Jaffer remaining unbeaten on 38 and 43, respectively.
Brief scores:
Assam: 206 & 160 (Swarupam Purkayastha 35; Aditya Sarwate 6/64, Akshay Wakhare 4/37).
Vidarbha: 154 & 88 for no loss in 31 overs.
