Karnataka sailed into the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2017-18 final with a nine-wicket win over Maharashtra in Delhi. The Karun Nair-led team bowled out the opposition for a paltry 160 runs and then raced to the target with little over 19 overs to spare.
Mayank Agarwal, who has been in superb form through the season led the chase with an 81-run knock. During the 155-run opening stand with his captain, the opener etched his name into the record books. Besides being the top-scorer in the tournament in the ongoing season, he also set the record for most number of runs in a single edition of the Vijay Hazare Trophy.
Chasing a sub-par target, Agarwal entertained with crisp drives and easy pulls as he milked the Maharashtra attack. Nair (70* off 90) too joined in the run-fest by gleaning runs off the opponents. The pair’s swift running between the wickets kept the scoreboard moving at a quick pace. They pierced the gaps with ease. However, with the target in sight, Agarwal returned to the pavilion. Nair then took the team to the finish line with Samarth R.
Earlier, when Maharashtra opted to bat, M Prasidh uprooted Ruturaj Gaikwad’s stumps with just two on the board. Rahul Tripathi then joined Shrikant Mundhe in the middle, and the pair stitched a partnership. However, with the innings taking shape, the No 3 bat departed nicking Pradeep T to the ‘keeper and CM Gautam took the catch at the second attempt.
With Maharashtra on 59 for two, A Bawane joined Mundhe in the middle. However, with the partnership worth 36 runs, the opener departed taking the aerial route to Ronit More. Two runs later, Bawane was run out leaving the side wobbling at 97 for four. While NS Shaikh toiled to hold one end up and keep the innings in the fray, the rest of the lineup caved in to the Karnataka spinners. K Gowtham claimed three wickets while Shreyas Gopal claimed one and with Anupam Sanklecha run out, Maharashtra were reeling at 160 for nine. In the next over, Shaikh holed out to deep backward point for 42. With Prasidh accounting for the middle-order batsman, Maharashtra were bowled out in 44.3 overs.
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