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What looked like a one-sided affair at the end of Day 4 took a dramatic turn as Saurashtra were made to work hard by Karnataka bowlers for the four-wicket win in Ranji Trophy semifinal. Once again, Saurashtra skipper Arpit Vasavada rescued his side and ensured there is no anti-climax in the run chase of 115 at Bengaluru.
Karnataka started Day 5 with an overnight score of 123/4. Nikin Jose lacked support from other end but he batted with lower order and helped Karnataka post 234. Jose scored 109 runs from 161 deliveries. He was the last batter to get dismissed in the innings. Krishnappa Gowtham (23) and Vijaykumar Vyshak (20) made crucial contributions to the score. Dharmendrasingh Jadeja and Chetan Sakariya took four wickets each to help Saurashtra take total control.
Saurashtra were expected to chase down the total easily but pacer Vasuki Koushik got his team back in the game with wickets of openers Snell Patel (1) and Harvik Desai (11). Skipper Mayank Agarwal applied more pressure and Krishnappa Gowtham bowled tight lines on a Day 5 pitch. Gowtham got the wickets of Visvaraj (17), Sheldon Jackson (7) and Chirag Jani (1) to make Saurashtra dressing room nervous. Saurashtra were reduced to 42/5 and the game was wide open.
Double centurion of first innings, Vasavda stitched a crucial partnership with Sakariya for the sixth wicket. Vasavada played with authority and pounced on scoring opportunities. Sakariya did not hold himself back from taking the aerial route as he smashed three sixes in his 24-run knock. Koushik broke the sixth-wicket partnership but it was only a consolation wicket with just 10 more runs needed to win. Vasavada's unbeaten 47 off 51 balls ensured Saurashtra get over the line with four wickets in hand in the third session to progress to the final.
Earlier, Vasavada won the toss and opted to field first. Agarwal played a captain's knock despite wickets falling around him. He scored 249 to help Karnataka post 407 in the first innings. He had help from wicketkeeper-batter Srinivas Sharath who contributed with a 66-run knock.
In reply, Saurashtra lost their top-order early. Jackson and Vasavda's 232-run partnership for the fourth wicket helped Saurashtra recover. Jackson scored 160 whereas Vasavda scored 202. Chirag Jani contributed with 72 before getting run out as Saurashtra posted 527 to take a 120-run lead.
