Karnataka Secure Semifinal Spot with Thrilling Win Over Baroda

Karnataka Secure Semifinal Spot with Thrilling Win Over Baroda

 Karnataka survived a thrilling contest against Baroda to secure a nail-biting five-run victory and reach the semi-finals of the Vijay Hazare Trophy. Rookie left-arm seamer Abhilash Shetty held his nerve in the final over, defending 13 runs to clinch the win. Devdutt Padikkal’s 102 off 99 balls, scored shortly after returning from Australia, was a […]

 Karnataka survived a thrilling contest against Baroda to secure a nail-biting five-run victory and reach the semi-finals of the Vijay Hazare Trophy. Rookie left-arm seamer Abhilash Shetty held his nerve in the final over, defending 13 runs to clinch the win. Devdutt Padikkal’s 102 off 99 balls, scored shortly after returning from Australia, was a standout performance that earned him the Player-of-the-Match award.

However, it was Karnataka’s exceptional fielding, particularly their catching, that proved to be the decisive factor in the close contest. Despite Baroda’s fightback, Karnataka’s strong performances in the field helped them maintain the pressure and secure their place in the semi-finals.

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Karnataka’s Stunning Comeback Seals Victory as Baroda’s Chase Falters

Baroda appeared to be cruising in their chase of 282, with captain Krunal Pandya and centurion Shashwat Rawat reducing the target to under 100 runs. At 185 for 2 in the 34th over, they were well on track, but a sudden collapse saw them lose 3 wickets for just 16 runs, providing Karnataka with an unexpected opening. Wicketkeeper Krishnan Shrijith was the first to strike, pulling off a stunning one-handed catch to dismiss Krunal off V Koushik’s delivery. In the following over, Shreyas Gopal trapped Vishnu Solanki lbw, and Karnataka captain Mayank Agarwal ran 30 yards from mid-off to take a spectacular catch, removing Shivalik Sharma.

Despite the setbacks, Baroda still had hope as Rawat, approaching a century, kept their chase alive. Rawat reached the three-figure mark in the 44th over, and with 59 runs required from the last six overs and four wickets in hand, Baroda seemed poised for a fightback. Bhanu Pania, who had scored a blistering 134 in a record-breaking T20 innings the previous month, hammered a 15-run over off Prasidh Krishna, breathing life into Baroda’s chase. However, a pivotal turning point came when Pania and Rawat fell in quick succession. Prasidh Krishna, who had been expensive, bowled a slower bouncer to dismiss Rawat, caught by Shrijith, which shifted the momentum back in Karnataka’s favor.

Baroda’s hopes were not completely dashed, as Bhargav Bhatt and Raj Limbani continued to strike crucial boundaries, reducing the equation to 13 runs from the last six balls. With two balls to go, Baroda needed 8 runs. They attempted a risky second run to get Bhatt on strike for the final ball, but an accurate throw by R Smaran from deep midwicket to the keeper resulted in Bhatt’s run out, sealing the game for Karnataka. Rookie left-arm seamer Abhilash Shetty remained calm under pressure, ensuring Baroda fell short in their pursuit.

Karnataka’s total of 281 was largely built on the brilliance of Devdutt Padikkal, who anchored the innings after the early dismissal of Agarwal. Padikkal’s 102 off 94 balls, supported by KV Aneesh’s solid 133-run partnership for the second wicket, laid the foundation for a competitive score. Padikkal was particularly destructive against Baroda’s off-spinner Mahesh Pithiya, regularly coming down the track to find the boundaries. Although Padikkal fell soon after reaching his century, top-edging a pull shot to the keeper, Karnataka’s lower order provided vital contributions. Shrijith and Abhinav Manohar’s cameos pushed Karnataka to a match-winning total, ensuring they had enough runs to defend in a thrilling finish.

Arshin Kulkarni and Mukesh Choudhary Shine as Maharashtra Reach Semis

Arshin Kulkarni, the 19-year-old allrounder from Maharashtra, marked his List A debut with a match-winning century, leading his side to a 70-run victory over Punjab and into the semifinals of the Vijay Hazare Trophy. Kulkarni top-scored with an impressive 107 off 137 balls, guiding Maharashtra to a total of 275 for 6. Despite a rocky start, where Maharashtra were reduced to 8 for 2 in the third over, Kulkarni’s composed innings steered them to a competitive total.

Maharashtra’s early collapse came courtesy of Arshdeep Singh, who claimed three wickets, including the dismissals of openers Ruturaj Gaikwad and Siddesh Veer. Gaikwad was bowled out by an away-swinger in the first over, while Veer was dismissed in the third after edging behind. However, Kulkarni found stability at the crease and, along with veteran Ankit Bawne, put together a crucial 145-run partnership for the third wicket. Bawne made 60 before falling to spin-bowling allrounder Naman Dhir. Though Rahul Tripathi fell cheaply for 15, Kulkarni’s resilience kept Maharashtra in the game, with Nikhil Naik’s blistering 52 off 29 balls providing the late acceleration as they finished with 275.

In their defense, Maharashtra were led by left-arm seamer Mukesh Choudhary, who started strong with the ball, dismissing Prabhsimran Singh and Abhishek Sharma early as Punjab attempted to chase down the target. Choudhary’s fine spell continued, and he claimed a third wicket in the 10th over, reducing Punjab to 50 for 3. His brilliant swing bowling set the tone, and Maharashtra’s bowlers capitalized on the early breakthroughs, keeping Punjab on the back foot throughout the innings.

Punjab’s middle order, including key players like Ramandeep Singh and Naman Dhir, struggled to get going, and Maharashtra tightened their grip on the game. Although Arshdeep Singh played a lone hand with a hard-hitting 49, his efforts weren’t enough to stop Punjab’s collapse. From a promising 123 for 7, they were ultimately all out for 205, with Maharashtra cruising to a comfortable victory. Kulkarni’s allround performance and Choudhary’s opening spell were the defining factors in a memorable debut and a crucial win for Maharashtra.

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