Mayank Agarwal performed a captain’s knock to steer Karnataka to a nervous one-wicket win in an oscillating contest towards Punjab within the Vijay Hazare Trophy Group C encounter in Ahmedabad.
The veteran batter remained unbeaten on 139 to see his aspect by means of to its third consecutive win within the competitors, a outcome that regarded unattainable when the aspect wanted 45 runs with just one wicket in hand.
Set a goal of 247, Karnataka in hassle when Punjab captain Abhishek Sharma ran by means of the highest order to go away the aspect reeling at 84 for 4, however skipper Agarwal cast essential partnerships by means of the center to maintain the aspect afloat.
With not a lot juice within the wicket, Agarwal and fellow opener Nikin Jose had safely waded by means of the preliminary spells from Arshdeep Singh and Baltej Singh, placing up a fifty-run partnership.
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Nikin fell for 13, trying to loft Abhishek over midwicket which opened the door for a spurt of wickets. Abhishek received the ball to show in to the left-hander on a pitch that was beginning to throw up mud because the day progressed. The left-arm spinner picked a pointy return catch to dismiss Smaran R earlier than forcing KL Shrijith to inside edge one to the keeper.
Agarwal’s partnerships with Shreyas Gopal and Abhinav Manohar regarded to take the sport Karnataka’s means earlier than two late wickets from Arshdeep turned the tide as soon as once more.
The 33-year-old used all his expertise to assist quantity eleven batter V. Koushik wade by means of the ultimate overs, refusing singles throughout the early a part of the over to guard the tailender earlier than choosing the proper ball to place away to the boundary – a job he did with a lot aplomb, ending the sport with greater than two overs to spare.
After being put in to bat, Punjab openers received a brisk begin with no motion on provide for the pacers regardless of a chill begin to the morning. After a number of wayward deliveries, debutant Abhilash Shetty, who changed the injured Vidyadhar Patil, prised out Abhishek for 17, with Nikin taking a diving catch to his left at additional cowl. Prabhsimran lofted a few full-length deliveries again over the bowler’s head earlier than nicking one whereas making an attempt to step down the monitor.
Anmolpreet Singh and Nehal Wadhera got down to rebuild the innings however discovered scoring tough early with Karnataka inserting a fielder at gully to dam the only to 3rd man. The scoring charge picked up when the spinners got here into operation with the batters placing away something too quick.
Karnataka suffered a jolt when V Vyshak pulled up clutching his quadriceps simply forward of his third over, forcing the staff to make use of Nikin because the sixth bowling choice. The compelled change proved to be a blessing in disguise because the part-timer cleaned up Wadhera with a full, tossed-up supply earlier than forcing Anmolpreet to gap out at deep midwicket proper after his fifty.
With over twenty overs left within the contest, wicketkeeper Anmol Malhotra and Sanvir Singh mixed for a 42-run partnership to regular the ship earlier than Abhilash bowled an impressed second spell, selecting up a maiden five-wicket haul to limit Punjab to 247.
Temporary Scores
Punjab 247 all out in 49.2 overs (Anmolpreet Singh 51, Anmol Malhotra 42, Abhilash Shetty 5/44) misplaced to Karnataka 251/9 in 47.3 overs (Mayank Agarwal 139 n.o., Abhishek Sharma 4/56)