Vid enter maiden SMAT semis Will meet Karnataka in last four on the morrow
   Date :19-Nov-2021

Vid enter maiden SMAT_1&n
 
 
Principal Correspondent :
 
THEY were tagged as a poor white ball team, but Vidarbha proved their critics wrong this season as they dethroned several top notch teams to make heads turn in the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Tournament. The Akshay Wadkar-led Vidarbha side is now on a seven-match winning spree. To make it more special, they stormed into their maiden semi-final of the competition thrashing a much fancied Rajasthan by nine wickets on Thursday. They are now just two games away to add another silverware along with Ranji Trophy and Irani Cup Trophy. They will meet Karnataka in the semi-finals which will be played on Saturday. Rajasthan posted 84 from 20 overs the target which Vidarbha achieved losing one wicket with 31 balls to spare. After keeping their slate clean in the Plate Group with five out of five wins, Vidarbha first quelled the challenge of a much-hyped Maharashtra side in the pre-quarters and on Thursday smothered mighty Rajasthan at the Air Force Ground in Palam, New Delhi. The ever improving Vidarbha bowlers showed what they are capable of with their tight line and length against Rajasthan. They were on the coin from the first ball and did not give the rivals an inch to settle. Vidarbha, who opted to bowl first, had a dream start as an agile Ganesh Satish ran Rajasthan opener Arjit Gupta out who went for a non existent run on the third ball of the innings.
 

qw_1  H x W: 0  
 
 
Within five deliveries, Rajasthan were two down with just two runs on the board. Darshan Nalkande collected a good catch of Yash Kothari off pacer Lalit Yadav. Nalkande was in the spotlight again as he sent rival skipper Mahipal Lomror (11) back in hut as Rajasthan reeled to 16 for three in four overs. Vidarbha bowlers were disciplined throughout the innings and kept pressure on Rajasthan.
 

er_1  H x W: 0  
 
 
The 11 overs from spinners Akshay Karnewar, Akshay Wakhare and Atharv Taide produced only 37 runs with Karnewar once again weaving magic with a figure of 4-0-7-1. Barring Kamlesh Nagarkoti, who remained unbeaten on 39, no other Rajasthan batter managed to trouble Vidarbha bowlers. Wickets continue to fall at regular interval and Rajasthan managed only 84 for 8 from 20 overs. Vidarbha openers Taide (40*) and Satish (28) started at the right earnest as they collected 63 runs before the latter was caught by Salman Khan off Aniket Chaudhary. But that did not made much of an impact as Taide and Wadkar (11*) crossed the line and ticked the semi-final box.