Bengaluru, Sep 22: Murali Vijay struck an unbeaten 151 as Rest of India took complete control of the Irani Cup match against Rajasthan at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. Vijay’s innings powered Rest of India to 328 for the loss of two wickets – 75 runs ahead of Rajasthan’s first innings score – with three full days still to be played in the match.

Rest of India began their day at two for no loss, having dismissed Rajasthan for 253 on Day 1. Their openers appeared in command from the very beginning with Vijay and Ajinkya Rahane needing just 13 overs to take the score to the 50-run mark. Rahane was the first to reach his half-century when he clipped medium pacer Sumit Mathur for a boundary that also saw ROI go past 100 in the 26th over of the innings. A few overs later, Vijay hit Rajasthan off-spinner, Madhur Khatri, to the deep cover boundary to bring up his own half-century as ROI went in to lunch at 127 for no loss.

The ROI openers continued to dominate proceedings in the second session as Rahane and Vijay took the score beyond 150. With the Rajasthan bowlers unable to force a breakthrough, it took a run-out for the Ranji Champions to get their first wicket. Rahane (81) found himself short of the crease as Madhur Khatri ran out the ROI opener in the 48th over after a 173-run opening stand with Vijay.

Cheteshwar Pujara, coming in to bat at No.3, didn’t waste much time to reestablish ROI’s control over the game. The ROI captain struck his first boundary off Sumit Mathur off the ninth delivery he faced, after which he struck a couple more fours as ROI reached 200 in the 54th over. Vijay, who had meanwhile moved into the 90s, lofted Khatri for a six over midwicket and then drove the off-spinner down the ground for a single to mid-on in the 60th over to reach the three-figure mark.

Resuming the final session of the day at 232 for one, Vijay and Pujara upped the scoring rate. Vijay lofted Khatri for consecutive sixes over long off in the 73rd over, while Pujara hit left-arm pacer Aniket Choudhary for back-to-back fours to bring up his half-century in the 76th over. Pujara (78), unfortunately, like Rahane before him, could not go on to complete his century. The ROI captain was caught by wicketkeeper Dishant Yagnik off Choudhary just a few overs before the close of play; but not before he had added 153 for the second wicket with Vijay.

However, with Murali Vijay (151*) very much in the middle, ROI look all set to extend their advantage over the Ranji champions on Day 3 as well.

Brief scores:

At end of Day 2: Rajasthan 1st innings 253/10 in 86.3 overs (Robin Bist 117*, Dishant Yagnik 40, Umesh Yadav 5/55); Rest of India 1st innings 328/2 in 91.0 overs (Murali Vijay 151*, Ajinkya Rahane 81, Aniket Choudhary 1/57)

At end of Day 1: Rajasthan 1st innings 253/10 in 86.3 overs (Robin Bist 117*, Dishant Yagnik 40, Umesh Yadav 5/55); Rest of India 1st innings 2/0 in 1.0 over (Ajinkya Rahane 2*, Murali Vijay 0*)