A round-up of the Ranji Trophy quarter-final matches played on Monday.
Madhya Pradesh reach Ranji semifinals with thrilling four-run win over Andhra
Anubhav Agarwal ran through Andhra's batting line-up with a superb six-wicket haul to propel Madhya Pradesh into the semi-finals of the Ranji Trophy following a four-run victory over Andhra in Indore on Monday.
In a low-scoring quarter-final played at the Holkar Stadium, bowlers ruled the roost for the majority of the contest and despite a spirited fight from the visiting side, Madhya Pradesh prevailed to make it to the final four.
With this win, the 2021-22 champions Madhya Pradesh became the second team after Tamil Nadu to enter the semi-finals.
On what turned out to be the final day, Andhra were bowled out for a mere 165 chasing 170 to win on the fourth day.
Resuming at 95/4 and with their senior batter Hanuma Vihari on strike with 75 runs more needed to win, Andhra were the more confident side but Agarwal led a stunning fightback once again for Madhya Pradesh.
Having taken three wickets in the first innings to help Madhya Pradesh take a vital lead of 62 runs, Agarwal terrorised the Andhra batters in the second innings to return figures of 6/52 from 19 overs.
Kulwant Khejroliya picked 2/40 while Kumar Kartikeya and Saransh Jain bagged one wicket apiece.
Agarwal struck thrice to put Madhya Pradesh in complete command when he had overnight batter Karan Shinde (14) trapped leg-before in the 51st over of the innings.
In his next over, Agarwal had Vihari (55 off 136 balls, 5 fours) caught by wicketkeeper Himanshu Mantri and pinned Shoaib Mohammed Khan (0) in front of the wickets for a first-ball duck.
While Khejroliya removed KV Sasikanth (7), Andhra threatened to take the game away from MP's grasp with a 32-run stand for the ninth wicket between Girinath Reddy (15 off 42 balls) and Ashwin Hebbar (22 off 52 balls).
Agarwal found a timely breakthrough getting rid of Girinath, which made the task more difficult for Andhra who needed another nine runs with one wicket in hand.
With five runs needed for Andhra to win, Khejroliya trapped No 7 Hebbar (22 off 42 balls) to deliver a narrow win for his side.
For his match-haul of 9/85, Agarwal was declared the player of the match.
Brief scores: Madhya Pradesh 234 & 107 beat Andhra 172 & 165 in 69.2 overs (Hanuma Vihari 55; Anubhav Agarwal 6/52) by 4 runs.
Pacers Vidwath, Vysakh shine to put Karnataka in driver's seat vs Vidarbha
Nagpur: Karnataka batters set up a fascinating final day with a determined effort after pacers Vidwath Kaverappa and Vysakh Vijaykumar gave them a foothold against Vidarbha with splendid spells on the fourth day of their Ranji Trophy quarter-finals here on Monday.
Chasing a massive 371 to win, Karnataka were 103 for one at close with captain Mayank Agarwal (61) and KV Aneesh (1) at the crease.
The visitors further need 268 runs on Tuesday for a remarkable victory.
But Karnataka should profusely thank Kaverappa (6/61) and Vijaykumar (4/81) for force opening the door while bowling out Vidarbha for 196 in their second innings.
Vidarbha started the day on a strong note at 50 for no loss and ahead by 224 runs.
But the dismissal of opener Dhruv Shorey (57, 98b, 3x4) sparked a collapse as Kaverappa and Vijaykumar ripped through Vidarbha innings with an incisive effort.
The home side lost remaining eight wickets for adding a mere 103 runs in a little less than two sessions and that gave Karnataka a reasonable opening.
Of course, Karnataka still needed to 371 to win but Agarwal and Ravikumar Samarth went after the target in all earnestness adding 101 runs in 23.4 overs.
They scored at nearly five runs an over as Vidarbha bowlers began to wilt under the onslaught.
However, Samarth was castled by left-arm spinner Aditya Sarwate minutes before stumps to give some relief to Vidarbha.
Brief scores: Vidarbha: 460 & 196 all out in 57.2 overs (Dhruv Shorey 57, Karun Nair 34; Vidwath Kaverappa 6/61, Vysakh Vijayakumar 4/81) vs Karnataka: 286 & 103/1 in 26 overs (Mayank Agarwal 61 batting, R Samarth 40).
Mumbai's lead surges to 415 on Day 4 of quarter-final against Baroda
Mumbai: Hardik Tamore delivered the goods with a fine 114 as Mumbai took control of their Ranji Trophy quarterfinal against Baroda, taking an overall lead of 415 at stumps on the fourth day here on Monday.
Having obtained a slender lead of 36 runs in the first innings which might eventually send Mumbai into the semifinals provided this contest ends in a draw, the hosts drove home the advantage to get to a commanding position.
Baroda veteran Bhargav Bhatt followed his first-innings seven-wicket haul with a similar performance, returning 7/142 in the second essay but Mumbai held the upper hand.
A lot of credit has to go to Mumbai wicketkeeper-batter Tamore, who followed his laborious yet essential first-innings half-century with a ton in the second essay, especially when he was promoted to open.
Tamore formed vital stands through the fourth day's play to keep the scoreboard ticking for Mumbai at the BKC Ground.
After adding 66 runs with Musheer Khan for the third wicket, Tamore put on 124 with Prithvi Shaw in just 157 balls for the fourth wicket.
Opener Shaw could only bat in the middle-order and he too was among runs, piling up a rapid 87 from 93 balls with 10 fours and two sixes which deflated the Baroda bowling attack.
Mumbai's spin bowling all-rounder Shams Mulani chipped in with a vital 54, which came off 103 balls with 10 fours and a six, while putting on another 69 runs for the sixth wicket.
Having resumed the fourth day's play at 21 for one and a mere 57 runs ahead, Mumbai needed a big effort with the bat but their key batters, especially skipper Ajinkya Rahane, disappointed again.
After losing their in-form opener Bhupen Lalwani (6) cheaply on the third evening, nightwatchman Mohit Avasthi perished for four runs.
Musheer made a fine start getting 33 with five fours but he too became a victim of Bhatt, who went on to claim the wickets of Shaw, Rahane, Mulani and Suryansh Shedge.
Rahane's ordinary run this season continued with the India batter being cleaned up for a four-ball duck by Bhatt.
Rahane made three in the first innings.
India all-rounder Shardul Thakur, however, also could not trouble the scorers much as he was removed from the equation by India U-19 World Cup player Raj Limbani.
Towards the end of the day, Tanush Kotian (32 not out) and Tushar Deshpande (23 not out) did a fine job, adding 42 runs for the 10th wicket to take Mumbai to 379/9.
Brief scores: Mumbai 384 & 379/9 in 102 overs (Hardik Tamore 114, Prithvi Shaw 87, Shams Mulani 54; Bhargav Bhatt 7/142) lead Baroda 348 by 415 runs.
