A clinical bowling performance led by skipper Jaydev Unadkat helped Saurashtra seal their place in the semi-finals. Unadkat was lethal with the new ball. And picked up the first two wickets and Chetan Sakariya also proved to be a threat at the other end. Sakariya bowled four maiden overs as Vidarbha reduced to just 9/3 which they failed to recover from. He sluggish on 86/8 and in danger of being dismiss for less than 100.
However, a counter-fifty from Apoorva Wankhede helped the batting side cross three figures before bowled out for 150. Saurashtra made a similar start and scored just 13 runs on the board, losing their openers. Vidarbha entertained ideas of a brilliant comeback after dismissing Sheldon Jackson in the 10th over but Prerak Mankad and Arpit Vasavada ensured that their side did not fall further. Mankad hit an unbeaten half-century, while Vasavada remained unbeaten on 41 as he had 121 balls to spare.
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Jaydev Unadkat 2-25) lost to Saurashtra 151/3 in 29.5 overs
Brief Scores: Vidarbha 150 in 40.3 overs (Apoorva Wankhede 72; Yuvraj Chudasama 2-15, Jaydev Unadkat 2-25) lost to Saurashtra 151/3 in 29.5 overs (Prerak Mankad 77, Arpit Vasavada 41; Aaditya Thackeray 2 -13) by 7 wickets
Kerala vs Services
A surprise collapse from Kerala’s batting unit cost them a big loss as Services made them through to the final semi-finals. Kerala well placed at one point despite the early departure of Mohammad Azharuddin and Jalaj Saxena. Opener Kunnummal scored a half-century as Kerala were 135/3 at one point. But the loss of important wickets of Sachin Baby and Sanju Samson caused them a big loss and Kunnummal was also run out immediately. Eventually, Kerala lost their last seven wickets adding just 40 runs and were bowled out for 175.
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Saurashtra will face Tamil Nadu in the second semi-final
Unnikrishnan Manukrishnan gave Kerala a glimmer of hope by hitting twice early, but Ravi Chauhan and Rajat Paliwal quickly turned the tables with a huge stand. Chauhan scored just 5 runs short of a century with the help of three sixes and 13 fours, while skipper Paliwal remained unbeaten on 65 to take his team home. Services will now take on Himachal Pradesh in the first semi-final while Saurashtra will take on Tamil Nadu in the second semi-final.
Brief scores: Kerala 175 in 40.4 overs (Kunnumal 85, V Manoharan 41; Divesh Pathania 3-19, Abhishek Tiwary 2-33) lost to 176/3 in 30.5 overs (Ravi Chauhan 95, Rajat Paliwal 65*; Unnikrishnan Manukrishnan 2 ) -23) by 7 wickets
