Nagpur: Hanuma Vihari scripted history by becoming the first player to score a hat-trick of hundreds in the Irani Cup, helping Rest of India rally and set Vidarbha a tricky 280-run target here.
Enjoying a good run of form, the 25-year-old created the record with a single down the ground on the fourth day, his second century of the match and third straight in Irani Cup.
The India player had scored 183 for Rest of India during last year’s Irani Cup match against Vidarbha, who recently retained the Ranji Trophy with another exemplary showing.
India’s Test vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane made 87 and Shreyas Iyer raced to a 52-ball 61, helping Rest of India to declare their second innings at 374 for three. Needing 280 to win, Ranji champions Vidarbha were 37 for one, still 243 runs shy of the target.
Brief scores: Rest of India 330 & 374/3 decl. in 107 overs (Vihari 180*, Rahane 87, S. Iyer 61*) vs Vidarbha 425 & 37/1 in 16 overs.
