A CLOSE finish is on the cards. Not many teams have chased over 350 runs in the fourth innings for a victory in Ranji Trophy. Former champions Karnataka, in pursuit of a target of 371 set by Vidarbha in their quarter-final under way at VCA Civil Lines ground, were 103-1 when bad light halted their charge on penultimate day of the five-day knock-out fixture on Monday. When play resumes on Tuesday, Karnataka skipper and India player Mayank Agarwal (61*; 77b, 9x4, 1x6) along with KV Aneesh (1*; 10b) will try to get those 268 more runs while the hosts would like to take nine wickets to make it to the semi-finals. The visitors started off confidently as their experienced opener Ravikumar Samarth (40; 69b, 5x4) square drove Umesh Yadav for a first ball four. Agarwal opened his account with an on-driven four off the same bowler in his next over. The intent was very much clear. One of Samarth’s productive strokes is guiding the ball to thirdman fence using pace of the bowlers. After employing that shot, he also hit an on-drive in the same Yadav over for a four after tea.

 

After ten overs, Vidarbha skipper went for twin changes, he first replaced Yadav with Yash Thakur and then Harsh Dubey was handed the ball from the far end. Agarwal welcomed the young left-arm spinner with a first ball pulled six. The loosener short ball was dispatched over mid-wicket fence. Both the batters managed a four each as the over yielded 15 runs. In his third over, Dubey and team-mates pleaded hard for an lbw verdict but to no avail. Soon it was left-arm spin form both ends as Vidarbha’s ‘go to man’ Aditya Sarvate was introduced in the 19th over of the innings. In his next over, Dubey forced Agarwal to miscue a shot but the skier dropped well short of a running Dhruv Shorey at deep sweeper cover. A quick single off the same bowler brought 50 for the skipper. Both Agarwal and Samarth made Vidarbha attack look ordinary and completed hundred of the partnership. Against the run of play, Samarth found his woodwork disturbed by Sarvate. New man Aneesh started cautiously even as clouds dimmed the natural light and umpires called it a day.

 

Earlier, resuming at their overnight score of 50-0, Vidarbha lost all the ten wickets for a further addition of 146 runs with seamers — Vidwath Kaverappa (6-61) and Vijaykumar Vyshak (4-81) sharing the spoils. Kaverappa completed his ten-wicket match haul infusing life in the match bringing his team back in the reckoning. Apart from openers Atharva Taide (25; 50b, 3x4) and Dhruv Shorey (57; 98b, 9x4) and the trio of Karun Nair (34; 56b, 5x4) and Aditya Sarvate (29; 42b, 4x4, 1x6) and Yadav (10; 5b, 1x4, 1x6) scored in double digits. In a close match, there ought to be some heated moments and the quarter-final had it share. After Sarvate hooked Vyshak for a maximum, the bowler took a jibe at the batter, who also responded in the same style. It took ugly turn when Agarwal came in support of his bowler. Umpires had to intervene to defuse the situation. Vidarbha skipper returned the favour when Agarwal was batting but this time Agarwal preferred to reply with the willow.