Karnataka clinch thriller to reach Vijay Hazare Trophy semis

Karnataka vs Baroda

Devdutt Padikkal and Shashwat Rawat struck centuries from opposing camps in a thrilling quarterfinal clash at the Moti Bagh Stadium in Vadodara, with Karnataka emerging victorious against the hosts by 5 runs. Karnataka, put in to bat, rode on Padikkal's 102 and useful contributions from the middle order to post 281/8. In response, Rawat scored 104 and received support from Atit Sheth (56) as they provided a good platform for the chase before Karnataka hit back with quick wickets. Bhargav Bhatt came up with a fighting knock towards the end but Karnataka prevailed in a close finish to enter the semis.

Padikkal, returning from Border-Gavaskar Trophy duties, got into the act straightaway as he put on a 133-run stand with Aneesh KV (52) after the in-form Mayank Agarwal fell early. But Raj Limbani and Sheth combined to trigger a slide as Karnataka, who were going strong at 163/1, were reduced to 227/6. That they finished with 280-plus was thanks to Abhinav Manohar's 21 and some useful lower order contributions from Shreyas Gopal and Prasidh Krishna, who also returned to the Karnataka team after participating in the Australia-India Tests.

Baroda started the chase in a steady manner before Abhilash Shetty dismissed Ninad Ashvinkumar Rathva. A 99-run stand between Shashwat Rawat and Atit Sheth kept them on track in the chase as the pressure on Karnataka started building. After Sheth's dismissal, Krunal Pandya joined hands with Rawat as they added 55 for the third wicket.

Karnataka, however, hit back with quick wickets to leave Baroda at 201/5. Rawat and Bhanu Pania added 40 but the scales tilted in Karnataka's favour as Baroda slipped to 247/8. But Bhargav Bhatt kept the fight going until the final over, bringing down the equation to 13 off 6. Limbani, who had supported Bhatt well, was run out off the second ball but a crucial boundary by Bhatt off Abhilash left Baroda needing 7 off 2. But Abhilash held his nerve and Bhatt was run out off the penultimate ball, leading to Karnataka's narrow win.

Brief scores: Karnataka 281/8 in 50 overs (Devdutt Padikkal 102, Aneesh KV 52; Atit Sheth 3-41) beat Baroda 276 in 49.5 overs (Shashwat Rawat 104, Atit Sheth 56; Shreyas Gopal 2-38, Vasuki Koushik 2-39) by 5 runs.

Maharashtra vs Punjab

Arshin Kulkarni's hundred and a disciplined bowling performance, led by Mukesh Choudhary's 3 for 44, set up Maharashtra's convincing 70-run win against Punjab in the quarterfinal game at the Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara. Kulkarni's 107, with support from Ankit Bawne (60) and Nikhil Naik (52*) helped Maharashtra post a competitive 275/6 after being asked to bat. In reply, Punjab were skittled out for 205 with No. 9 Arshdeep Singh (49) being their highest scorer in the innings.

Maharashtra suffered early setbacks in their innings, with Arshdeep accounting for Ruturaj Gaikwad and Siddhesh Veer to leave them at 8/2. A 145-run partnership between Kulkarni and Bawne ensued, setting up a good platform for Maharashtra. Punjab hit back later with quick wickets as Maharashtra, from 153/2, slipped to 212/6 with Arshdeep and Naman Dhir combining to do the damage. Kulkarni was the sixth wicket to fall, in the 45th over, with Punjab setting their sights on restricting Maharashtra to under 240. But Naik's blistering half-century, which included 3 fours and as many sixes, along with Satyajeet Bachhav's handy 20 not out, powered Maharashtra to 270-plus.

Punjab started steadily before things went awry for them quickly. From 25/0 they were reduced to 79/5, with Choudhary bagging three of those wickets. Anmolpreet Singh tried to keep the innings together but wickets fell regularly as Punjab slipped to 123/7. Arshdeep and Sanvir Singh put on a half-century stand for the eighth wicket as they tried to fight it out. But the target proved well beyond Punjab's reach as their innings ended in the 45th over.

Brief scores: Maharashtra 275/6 in 50 overs (Arshin Kulkarni 107, Ankit Bawne 60, Nikhil Naik 52*; Arshdeep Singh 3-56) beat Punjab 205 in 44.4 overs (Arshdeep Singh 49, Anmolpreet Singh 48; Mukesh Choudhary 3-44, Pradeep Dadhe 2-31) by 70 runs.