A superb spell by Rajneesh Gurbani (4/35) in the third session of Day 4 of the semi-final between Vidarbha and Karnataka put the latter in an advantageous position. After Siddhesh Neral and Umesh Yadav claimed the top three batsmen, the pacer pushed Karnataka on the back-foot.
Here are the highlights of Day 4, Ranji Trophy 2017-18 semi-finals:
Vidarbha vs Karnataka in Kolkata: Although they had conceded a 116-run first innings lead, Vidarbha made their way back into the game with a determined batting performance in the second innings to set Karnataka a 198-run target. The Vidarbha pace attack then struck telling blows to seize the momentum from Karnataka and leave the match precariously poised at the end of Day 4.
Umesh Yadav dealt the first and most telling blow in the third over of Karnataka’s chase to leave the side on seven for one. The pacer accounted for the season’s highest run-getter, Mayank Agarwal to set the tone for the innings. The opener departed handing a catch back to Umesh for three. A bit later, Siddhesh Neral followed up with the wickets of Samarth R and Nischal D to leave the side on 40 for three. Karun Nair and CM Gautam took the team to Tea at 69 for four as they looked to stabilise the innings.
However, post tea, Rajneesh Gurbani disrupted Karnataka’s innings. The pacer drew an edge from Nair through to the wicketkeeper A Wadkar, who latched on to the catch leaving Karnataka on 81 for four. In his next over the bowler trapped Stuart Binny lbw to peg the opponents further back. With half the side back in the dressing room for 87 runs, Vinay Kumar joined Gautam in the middle.
The Gautam-Vinay pair took Karnataka to the three-figure mark when Gurbani struck again. Gautam departed edging the bowler to the ‘keeper for 24. The bowler then sent back Gowtham K in his next with Karnataka on 104.
Shreyas Gopal then joined Vinay in an effort to build the wobbling innings. The pair had taken the side to 111 for seven when bad light stopped play and couldn’t be resumed. At Stumps, Karnataka needed 87 runs to win with three wickets in hand.
Earlier, after resuming their second innings on 195 for four, Ganesh Satish and Wadkar looked to add on to Vidarbha’s lead. However, the wicketkeeper was sent back by Stuart Binny in the morning leaving the team on 222 for five. And two runs later Abhimanyu Mithun got the better of Satish with a short-pitched delivery. The batsman returned to the pavilion for 81.
A Sarvate then anchored the Vidarbha innings as they looked to set up the match. He made 92-ball 55 to take his team to 313 until being last wicket to fall. The Karnataka captain accounted for the lower middle-order bat to warp-up the Vidarbha innings.
Scorecard -
http://www.bcci.tv/ranji-trophy-2017-18/match/90
Bengal vs Delhi in Pune: Delhi trounced Bengal in three days to reach final.
Scorecard - http://www.bcci.tv/ranji-trophy-2017-18/match/89 
