Ranji Trophy: Exceptional bowling display from Harsh Dubey and Aditya Sarwate leads Vidarbha into semi-finals; Karnataka bow out

On a fascinating final day of the match at the VCA Stadium in Civil Lines, Vidarbha clinched a remarkable victory over Karnataka by 128 runs, sealing their spot in the Ranji Trophy semifinals. This victory was largely attributed to the exceptional bowling performances by Harsh Dubey and Aditya Sarwate, who each took four wickets, demonstrating their pivotal roles in Vidarbha's comeback on the final day of the match.

Karnataka resume final day with hope of miracle

Karnataka, resuming their chase on the fifth day with optimism at 103/1, faced an unexpected batting collapse that led to their downfall. Despite needing 268 runs with nine wickets in hand, a favorable position to chase down the target, the Karnataka batters were unable to withstand the pressure exerted by Vidarbha's bowlers.

Sarwate, with his precise bowling, was instrumental in dismantling the top order, claiming the crucial wickets of Karnataka skipper Mayank Agarwal (70), Nikin Jose (0), and Manish Pandey (1), marking a turning point in the match.

The middle order attempted to revive the innings, with Aneesh KV showing resilience by scoring 40 runs. However, his effort was cut short when he was run out, further dampening Karnataka's hopes of a comeback. The situation worsened as Dubey took center stage, decimating the lower order with his sharp bowling, including the vital wicket of Hardik Raj (13), and continuing his onslaught until the end.

After stellar bowling display, Vysjak and Vidwath fight with the bat for Karnataka

Despite a late effort by Vijay Kumar Vyshak (34) and Vidwath Kaverappa (25) to delay defeat through a 33-run partnership, Dubey's relentless attack proved too much for Karnataka, leading to their all-out for 243 in pursuit of the 371-run target. This loss eliminated Karnataka from the semifinal contention, while Vidarbha advanced to the next round.

Aditya Sarwate, for his match-winning performance of a seven-wicket haul across both innings, was deservedly named the player of the match. His contribution, along with Dubey's decisive four-wicket haul, underscored a team effort that turned the tide in Vidarbha's favor, demonstrating their championship mettle and setting the stage for an exciting semifinal showdown in the Ranji Trophy.

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