In a dramatic, rain-truncated day of cricket, defending champions Karnataka and a dominant Saurashtra advanced to the semi-finals of the Vijay Hazare Trophy, their victories sealed by the VJD method after weather intervened at crucial junctures in both quarterfinals on Sunday.
Karnataka’s Commanding Chase Halts Mumbai
At the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, Karnataka produced a near-flawless performance to end Mumbai’s campaign. After opting to field, Karnataka’s bowlers, led by Vidyadhar Patil (3/46), restricted Mumbai to 254 for 8. The total was built almost single-handedly by Shams Mulani’s gritty 86, with valuable late support from Sairaj Patil (32*).
In reply, Karnataka’s chase was a masterclass. Openers Mayank Agarwal and the in-form Devdutt Padikkal provided a solid start. After Agarwal fell for 31, Karun Nair joined Padikkal, and the pair unleashed a breathtaking assault. Padikkal (81* off 95) continued his golden run, while Nair (74* off 80) played with sublime timing. Their unbroken 167-run partnership had taken Karnataka to 187 for 1 in just 33 overs when bad light, followed by rain, forced the players off.
The stoppage proved decisive. At that stage, the VJD par score was 132, leaving Karnataka a massive 55 runs ahead and confirming their passage to the last four. Mumbai, despite Mulani’s heroics, were left to rue their fielding after dropping Padikkal early in his innings.
Desai’s Century Powers Saurashtra Past UP
In the other quarterfinal, Saurashtra pulled off a stunning chase against Uttar Pradesh, riding on a magnificent unbeaten century from opener Harvik Desai. UP had posted a formidable 310 for 8, thanks to twin scores of 88 from Abhishek Goswami and the explosive Sameer Rizvi.
Saurashtra’s reply was fearless. After losing Vishvaraj Jadeja early, Desai and Prerak Mankad (67) added 133 runs to lay a formidable foundation. Even after Mankad’s dismissal, Desai found an able ally in Chirag Jani (40* off 31). The opener reached a superb century off 116 balls, celebrating just moments before the skies opened up with Saurashtra at 204 for 3 in 35 overs.
Rain and bad light had the final say once more. Saurashtra were comfortably ahead of the VJD par score by 17 runs, clinching a dramatic victory and breaking UP’s hearts. Desai’s knock, under immense pressure in a knockout chase, was the cornerstone of the win.
Semi-Final Line-Up Set
With these results, Karnataka and Saurashtra join the winners of Monday’s quarterfinals (Tamil Nadu vs Vidarbha and Haryana vs Rajasthan) in the semi-finals. The day was a testament to building commanding positions before the weather intervened, rewarding proactive cricket and setting the stage for an exciting climax to India’s premier domestic 50-over tournament.
