Ranji Trophy: Vasavada double century places Saurashtra in pole place on Day 4

Arpit Vasavada all however batted Karnataka out of the Ranji Trophy semifinal on the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium right here on Saturday.

The skipper, who had performed the rescue act on day three with Sheldon Jackson, gave his innings a match-winning halo on day 4. The 34-year-old’s second First Class double-ton (202, 406b, 21×4, 1×6) helped Saurashtra take a first-innings lead of 120 after being 43 runs shy on the day’s begin.

That left Karnataka with 4 periods to degree the rating, set a goal and bowl the guests out. It managed the primary activity, raking up 123 runs after Tea. But the lack of 4 wickets, together with these of Mayank Agarwal (55, 64, 5×4) and Manish Pandey (4, 13b), and a lead of simply three runs makes the opposite two well-nigh unattainable.

Saurashtra now has one foot within the summit conflict, and solely a miracle can deny it a 3rd closing look in 4 editions.

“I feel extremely happy to contribute in a way that we are in a good position,” Vasavada stated. “ My game is to stay at the wicket and take singles and doubles. Really happy to have done that.”

Starting from an in a single day 364 for 4, Saurashtra was unhurried within the morning session. From 39 overs solely 109 runs have been scored, however Vasavada and Chirag Janis (72, 149b, 5×4, 1×6) helped obtain the dual goal of securing the all-important first-innings lead and denying Karnataka time to pressure a win.

Vasavada ultimately introduced up his double-century with a hard-run double, emblematic of his facet’s dogged resilience and perseverance. He was the ninth man out, taking part in pacer Vidwath Kaverappa (35.4-6-83-5) onto his stumps. But by then, the job was executed.

Mayank, to his credit score, didn’t let his shoulders stoop. Despite the early lack of R. Samarth and Devdutt Padikkal, he rebuilt the innings within the firm of Nikin Jose (54 batting, 74b, 6×4) and accounted for a tremendous half-century (55, 64b, 5×4).

But Saurashtra usually bowled to loaded leg-side fields, forcing the batters to reverse-sweep or go inside-out. It was no shock that Mayank was out caught at long-off attempting to go excessive. The knock left him 9 in need of the 1000-run mark for the season. It is more likely to stay that manner.