Rinku Singh, known for his T20 finishing heroics, showcased his red-ball grit on Wednesday with a career-best 176, guiding Uttar Pradesh to a crucial first-innings lead against Tamil Nadu in their Ranji Trophy Group A match.
The four-day contest ended in a draw, with UP collecting three points after posting 460 all out in reply to Tamil Nadu’s 455. The hosts took one point from the game.
Rinku’s innings, filled with 17 fours and six sixes, proved decisive in securing the five-run advantage. Resuming on 98 overnight, he faced 247 deliveries across two days, while lower-order contributions, including Shivam Mavi’s valuable 54 further strengthened UP’s total.
At a time when India’s Test side is battling spin troubles at home, Rinku’s composed knock adds weight to his case as a potential option for the national selectors going forward.
In another Group A fixture, former champions Vidarbha cruised to a 144-run victory over Baroda in Nagpur, powered by pacer Darshan Nalkande’s career-best 5 for 12.
The outright win earned Vidarbha six points, consolidating their position at the top of the table. The result was all but sealed on the third evening, when Baroda were reduced to 73 for 5 in pursuit of 276, with Nalkande taking four key top-order wickets.
Baroda, already trailing by 203 runs when play resumed on the final day, folded for 131 in 50.4 overs, having earlier been dismissed for 166 in their first innings.
Nalkande’s maiden first-class five-wicket haul came seven years after his debut and was well supported by Nachiket Bhute (2/47) and left-arm spinner Parth Rekhade (2/28). Sukirt Pandey top-scored for Baroda with 37, while captain Atit Sheth (29) and Raj Limbani (21) showed brief resistance on a challenging surface at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium.
Yash Rathod’s pivotal 91 off 142 balls on the third day also played a major role in setting up Vidarbha’s third win in five matches this season.
