Vijay Hazare Trophy 2017/18: Karnataka Qualify For Final After Posting Emphatic Win Over Maharashtra

Karnataka sailed into the final of the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2017/18 after posting an emphatic win over Maharashtra in the semi-final.

Being asked to chase a mere total of 161, Karnataka chased it down with ease, with fall of just one wicket.

In the chase to the target, Mayank Agarwal once again top-scored for his side by scoring 81.

Karun Nair, the captain, also played a crucial inning of 70*.

Both the openers shared 155 runs for the first wicket, to ensure that Karnataka crosses the winning line with utmost ease.

Post Nair’s dismissal, it was more formality for Karnataka to score those six runs in more than 21 overs that remained.

Mayank, with his innings, crossed the 600 run mark. He is already the highest run-scorer in the tournament.

Earlier in the day, after being asked to bat, Maharashtra had a poor start as they lost the wicket of Ruturaj Gaikwad in the very first over.

Rahul Tripathi and Shrikant Mundhe tried to provide some solidity, but Tripathi’s innings came to an end on the last delivery of 13h over, when wicketkeeper CM Gautam caught him.

Ankit Bawne joined Mundhe in the middle, but just after 36 runs, the latter threw away his wicket, leaving Maharashtra at 95/3.

From there, it was all bowlers’ game, and in the end, Maharashtra could just manage mere 160 runs.

Krishnappa Gowtham shone with the ball and scalped three wickets for 26 runs.

M Prasidh Krishna took two important wickets, one at the start and one in the middle, to give two important breakthroughs.

Karnataka have qualified for the final of the List A tournament.

The second finalist team will be decided tomorrow (February 25), after the semi-final tie between Saurashtra and Andhra Pradesh.

Brief score – Karnataka 164/1 (Mayank Agarwal 81, Karuna Nair 70*; Satyajeet Bachchav 1-32) defeat 160/10 (Shrikant Mundhe 50, Naushad Shaikh 42; Krishnappa Gowtham 3-26).

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