Ranji Trophy 2018/19 Semi-finals: Vidarbha enter finals with an innings win over Kerala, Karnataka fight back against Saurashtra on day 2

The defending Champions Vidarbha made it to the finals of the 2018/19 Ranji Trophy as they defeated Kerala by an innings and 11 runs. Starting the 2nd day on 171 for 5, Vidarbha were bowled out for 208 runs with a lead of 102 runs. Kerala were dismissed for 91 runs in the second innings as Umesh Yadav bowled another impressive spell to finish with figures of 5 for 31.

In the other semi-final between Karnataka and Saurashtra, Saurashtra trail by 48 runs in the first innings with three wickets in hand. Saurashtra openers Desai and Snell Patel got the team off to a decent start as the pair added 43 runs for the opening wicket. Ronit More struck first as he dismissed Harvik Desai for 16. At the stroke of lunch, More struck again to dismiss VM Jadeja for five runs. Saurashtra went into lunch at 63 for 2.

After the lunch break, Snell Patel reached his half-century off 86 balls. Snell and Pujara steadied the innings with a solid partnership of 74 runs for the 3rd wicket. At the stroke of the tea break, Gopal got the wicket of Snell Patel for 85 runs. Saurashtra went into tea break at 137 for 3.

Pujara and Sheldon Jackson played with positive intent and added 41 runs for the 4th wicket. Mithun got the big wicket of Pujara for 45. Ronit More brought Karnataka back into the game as he picked up three wickets to reduce Saurashtra to 227 for 7 at the close of the second day's play. Ronit More ended day 2 with 5 for 54.

Going back to the other semi-final, Vidarbha beat Kerala by an innings and 11 runs to progress into their second successive finals of Ranji Trophy. Starting the 2nd day on 171 for five, Kerala bowlers picked up five wickets in quick succession to bowl out Vidarbha for 208 runs. At lunch, Kerala were reduced to 66 for 7, thanks to a brilliant spell from Umesh Yadav and Thakur.

In the second innings, Umesh Yadav was simply sensational as he picked up five wickets while Yash Thakur took 4 wickets. For Kerala, Arun Karthik was the top scorer with 36 runs.

Brief scores:

Vidarbha 208 in 52.4 overs (Faiz Fazal 75, Umesh Yadav 17*, Wasim Jaffer 34, Sandeep Warrier 5/57, MD Nidheesh 3/64) beat Kerala 106 in 28.4 overs (Vishnu Vinod 37*, Sachin Baby 22, Umesh Yadav 7/48, Rajneesh Gurbani 3/38) and 91 in 25.4 overs (Arun Karthik 36, Umesh Yadav 5/31, Yash Thakur 4/28) by an innings and 11 runs.

Saurashtra 227 for 7 in 66.3 overs (Snell Patel 85, Vasavada 26*, Jackson 46, Pujara 45, Ronit More 5/54) trail Karnataka 275 in 100.3 overs (Shreyas Gopal 87, BS Sharath 83*, Unadkat 4/50, Makvana 3/73) by 48 runs.