Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25: Karun Nair’s majestic run takes Vidarbha into finals

Karun Nair’s spectacular kind continued as he registered an unbeaten 88 off simply 44 balls to information Vidarbha to a 69-run victory over Maharashtra within the second semi-final of the Vijay Hazare Trophy on January 16. The victory has taken the aspect to the summit conflict towards Nair’s former crew, Karnataka, on Saturday.

Batting first, Vidarbha posted a 380/3, their highest complete within the event’s historical past. The innings have been anchored by a 224-run opening stand between Dhruv Shorey (114 off 120 balls) and Yash Rathod (116 off 101 balls). Rathod, who was named Participant of the Match, laced his innings with 14 boundaries and one six.

Nair’s fiery knock missed the dual centuries as he paced Vidarbha’s innings within the dying overs. Nair smashed 4 sixes and three fours within the final two overs, together with smashing 24 runs off the ultimate over of Rajneesh Gurbani’s bowling. His innings featured 9 boundaries and 5 sixes general. Nair has had a outstanding event as far as he now has 752 runs within the season, having been dismissed solely as soon as at an astronomical common of 752.00.

Maharashtra, chasing 381, struggled to maintain up with the asking charge. The lack of captain Ruturaj Gaikwad within the third over, courtesy of a superb diving catch by Jitesh Sharma, put Maharashtra on the backfoot early on. Whereas Arshin Kulkarni (90 off 101 balls) and Ankit Bawne (50 off 49 balls) stitched a 94-run partnership, the crew’s center order collapsed as Vidarbha bowlers Darshan Nalkande (3/64) and Nachiket Bhute (3/68) ensured that Maharashtra by no means acquired the momentum. 

Additionally Learn: ‘Each time I’m set I ensure I am going all the best way’ – Karun Nair sheds gentle on his mindset amid purple patch in Vijay Hazare Trophy

Maharashtra additionally paid the worth for his or her poor fielding efficiency as they dropped six catches and lacking essential possibilities, together with the probabilities of Shorey, Rathod, and Nair. The missed alternatives allowed Vidarbha to capitalise and set a giant goal.

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