Twin lots of and a mammoth 224-run opening partnership aren’t typically overshadowed, however skipper Karun Nair’s blitz (88 n.o., 44b, 9×4, 5×6) was an assault of such magnitude on the senses that it dwarfed Dhruv Shorey and Yash Rathod’s centuries as Vidarbha beat Maharashtra by 69 runs on the Kotambi Stadium right here on Thursday to enter the Vijay Hazare Trophy last for the primary time.
Karun is a person destined to attain runs this season, and he continued his purple patch with a sixth fifty-plus rating in seven innings to energy Vidarbha to 380 for 3 — its highest whole ever within the 50-over competitors — and arrange a date along with his former staff Karnataka within the last.
Maharashtra’s reply was rocked early as skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad fell to wicketkeeper Jitesh Sharma’s gorgeous catch. Regardless of Arshin Kulkarni and Ankit Bawne’s defiant 94-run alliance for the fourth wicket, Maharashtra couldn’t maintain tempo with Karun’s onslaught.
The benefit with which runs have flowed from Karun’s willow on this match was typified within the final over of Vidarbha’s innings. Karun effortlessly sliced and pulled the ball for 2 sixes off Rajneesh Gurbani’s 24-run over.
AS IT HAPPENED: VHT SF2 – VID vs MAH Highlights
He plundered left-armer Mukesh Choudhary for consecutive sixes within the penultimate over, the primary of which astonishingly sailed over the bowler’s head off size.
Contrastingly, openers Shorey and Rathod epitomized the virtues of 50-over cricket, counting on pristine timing and astute placement to erect Vidarbha’s highest-ever first-wicket stand. They noticed off the brand new ball with little fuss, coasting at about 5 runs an over whereas preying on the unfastened deliveries.
Shorey and Rathod matched one another shot for shot, elevating their fifties off consecutive deliveries and ringing of their 100-run stand inside 19 overs.
They have been circumspect in opposition to the spinners initially, earlier than Shorey stepped on the pedal, giving off-spinner Siddhesh Veer the cost and launching him for the innings’ first six within the thirtieth over. Rathod showcased his prowess in opposition to spin when he lofted Satyajeet Bachhav inside out for a six over cowl.
After inserting Vidarbha, Maharashtra missed six probabilities on the sphere, together with 5 dropped catches and a botched-up evaluation, and by no means recovered.
Temporary scores:
Vidarbha 380 for 3 in 50 overs (Dhruv Shorey 114, Yash Rathod 116, Karun Nair 88 n.o., Jitesh Sharma 51) beat Maharashtra 311 for seven in 50 overs (Arshin Kulkarni 90, Ankit Bawne 50, Nikhil Naik 49; Darshan Nalkande 3/64, Nachiket Bhute 3/68).