Devdutt Padikkal’s fourth successive ton propels Karnataka into semi-finals

Gujarat and Karnataka turned the 1st groups to qualify for the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2020-21 semi-finals, with convincing wins in opposition to Andhra and Kerala respectively on Monday. Both of those victories have been fashioned by opening batsmen.

Even though Priyank Panchal manufactured 134 off 131 to electric power Gujarat to 299 for 7, Karnataka’s opening duo of R Samarth and Devdutt Padikkal continued their irresistible form all through the event as the aspect piled on 338 for 3. Samarth, the new Karnataka captain, smashed a career-ideal 192 (off 158 balls), though Padikkal manufactured a 119-ball one zero one. Kerala mounted a obstacle of sorts but subsided to 258 all out in forty three.four overs with seamer Ronit Much more getting 5 for 36 in 9 overs, as Karnataka wrapped up an eighty-run gain.

Gujarat’s victory was even bigger, as Andhra have been bowled out for 182 in 41.2 overs. Left-arm pacer Arzan Nagwaswalla took four for 28.

Karnataka and Gujarat now await the winners of the quarter-finals in between Mumbai-Saurashtra and Uttar Pradesh-Delhi, which will both consider location on Tuesday.

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Samarth and Padikkal have both piled on operates in the event, and they proved unstoppable at the time once more. Padikkal manufactured his fourth consecutive century – acquiring hit 152 in opposition to Odisha, 126* in opposition to Kerala in the league activity, and one hundred forty five* in opposition to Railways coming into the activity. He thus turned the 1st Indian participant to hit four consecutive Listing A centuries. Only two other players have hit four consecutive centuries in one-dayers: Kumar Sangakkara for Sri Lanka in the 2015 Entire world Cup, and Alviro Petersen later on that year in the Momentum A single-Day Cup 2015-16 for the Lions.

Samarth, meanwhile, pressed on, and was in sight of a double-hundred when he fell with 10 balls remaining in the innings. He hit a few sixes and 22 fours, though accelerating at speed all through his innings. His 1st fifty took fifty nine balls, and he attained a century in 112 balls. He then plundered ninety one operates off his very last forty six balls. Samarth has been only marginally considerably less prolific than Padikkal, acquiring not scored under sixty in his very last 5 innings, which include things like two scores of one hundred fifty-plus.

Both of those Padikkal (673 operates) and Samarth (605 operates) sit easily atop the run-getters record for the event, with no other batsman acquiring crossed even 450 nevertheless.

All of Kerala’s bowlers arrived in for weighty punishment barring Jalaj Saxena, who took the new ball in opposition to Karnataka’s marauding openers but finished up conceding a mere 34 operates in 10 overs, finishing the event with an financial state fee under 3.seventy five. Nedumankuzhy Basil, the correct-arm medium pacer actively playing only his fifth Listing A activity, took all the wickets to fall, ending with 3 for fifty seven in 8 overs.

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Kerala’s reply endured an early jolt when the in-form Robin Uthappa was lbw for 2 in opposition to his property point out, Much more earning his 1st breakthrough. Vathsal Govind, the 21-year-previous remaining-hand batsman actively playing his debut one-day time, manufactured ninety two off ninety six though Mohammed Azharuddeen smashed 52 off 34, but with none of the relaxation of the best order crossing thirty and Much more placing on a regular basis, Kerala’s job was constantly a tricky one. Saxena extra to a very good all-round day with a 23-ball 24 from No.8, until eventually he was the very last male out.

Much more, who experienced not been picked in the XI for Karnataka’s very last a few online games, received his option because of to a niggle to Abhimanyu Mithun, and manufactured the most of it.

Panchal joined Samarth in both captains currently being the best run-scorers in their matches, keeping Gujarat’s innings alongside one another until he fell in the forty ninth above. Panchal maintained a brisk speed through his innings, accelerating right after his century, which took 114 balls. He hit 10 fours and two sixes all through his innings, and was the fulcrum around which Gujarat designed their overall. The relaxation of the best order all received into double figures, but Gujarat’s next highest rating was 36, by No.3 Rahul Shah.

Priyank Panchal celebrates his century PTI

Ripal Patel, the tricky-hitting speed-bowling allrounder who was signed by Delhi Capitals at the IPL 2021 auctions, furnished some ballast in the next half with a 24-ball 35 that pushed Gujarat alongside, but it was Panchal who carried the innings on his bat.

Andhra’s most successful bowler was correct-arm medium pacer Harishankar Reddy, snapped up by Chennai Super Kings in the IPL 2021 auctions, who took 3 for sixty in 10 overs which include the wicket of Panchal. KV Sasikanth and debutant Lalith Mohan both took 2 for 55, nevertheless Mohan bowled only 9 overs.

Andhra’s reply was derailed early by Nagwaswalla, who has now develop into the best wicket-taker in the competitiveness. Nagwaswalla has 19 scalps from six online games at an ordinary of 12.00. He struck in the next, fourth and sixth overs – his third wicket currently being that of Hanuma Vihari for a duck.

Ricky Bhui continued his very good form with 67 off 76 from No.5, but with the relaxation of the best order slipping cheaply, Andhra have been constantly guiding. Some reduced-order operates intended they recovered briefly from 58 for 5 in the sixteenth above, but that only narrowed the margin of defeat.