Ranji Trophy Quarterfinals, Day Four: Gujarat books semifinal berth

Gujarat defeated Goa by 464 runs in Valsad to enter the semifinals.

Updated : Feb 23, 2020 18:46 IST

Bengal batsman Abhishek Raman (right) raises his bat after reaching fifty. - BISWARANJAN ROUT
Bengal batsman Abhishek Raman (right) raises his bat after reaching fifty. - BISWARANJAN ROUT
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Bengal batsman Abhishek Raman (right) raises his bat after reaching fifty. - BISWARANJAN ROUT

Welcome to Sportstar 's live coverage of the fourth day of the four quarterfinal contests.

 

 

 

Gujarat becomes the first team to book a berth in the Ranji Trophy semifinals. It was a one-sided affair which concluded late in the day. Gujarat could have declared its second innings closed earlier, to wrap up things early, but perhaps it wanted to be safe. It could also have decided to enforce the follow on after gaining a gigantic first-innings lead.

A first-innings lead was also in grasp for Jammu & Kashmir, but Karnataka took three wickets for no run to prevent the home side from getting into the lead. Karnataka now has the advantage in this quarterfinal contest in Jammu, after batting through the second and third sessions.

Bengal and Saurashtra batted through the day in Cuttack and Ongole, respectively, to establish control.

Join us, to find out what happens in these games, on Day Five, at 9.30 am. Until then, it's goodbye.

UPDATES

Gujarat vs Goa | It's all over in Valsad. Siddharth Desai gets his fifth wicket, that of No. 11 Vijesh Prabhudesai, who is dismissed lbw. Darshan Misal remains not out; he scored 46.

It's a big win for Gujarat but couldn't it have declared its second innings closed earlier to ensure an early finish to the contest?

So, Gujarat becomes the first team to enter the semifinals of the Ranji Trophy.

Gujarat vs Goa | Wickets are tumbling in Valsad. Here's Amol : Arzan Nagwaswalla's spirited spell — with two quick wickets — has given his family lots of reasons to rejoice and raised hopes of finishing the game off. With 25 minutes remaining in the day's play, Goa 145 for 8.

And he has got another, thanks to a diving catch in the second slip.

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Arnab Nandi is dismissed bowled. The bowler is Anurag Sarangi. - BISWARANJAN ROUT
 

J&K vs Karnataka | R. Samarth is dismissed for 74 by left-arm seamer Mujtaba Yousuf but Karnataka has this in the bag. The lead is 199. Karnataka is three wickets down for 185 in the second innings.

Siddharth K. V. has scored a half-century. He is batting on 57 (94b, 5x4, 2x6).

Odisha vs Bengal | Arnab Nandi departs, for 45. This is Sarangi's second wicket in the innings. The partnership was worth 73. Mukesh Kumar, who shone brightly with the ball on Day Three, joins Shahbaz.

Shahbaz, meanwhile, has scored a half-century. He is batting on 52 (93b, 3x4, 1x6).

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Odisha's Preet Singh Chohan celebrates after getting rid of Shreevats Goswami. - BISWARANJAN ROUT
 

Odisha vs Bengal | 350 up for Bengal. The partnership is 77 now, between Shahbaz (48 n.o., 85b, 3x4, 1x6) and Arnab Nandi (44 n.o., 73b, 5x4, 1x6). Bengal's lead is 432.

Gujarat vs Goa | Here's an update from our correspondent Amol Karhadkar : Suyash Prabhudessai tried taking on Siddharth Desai's defensive line but a heave over mid-wicket only resulted in a top-edge to Samit Gohel behind the wicket. Since then, Smit Patel and Darshan Misal have put a price on their wicket, seeing off 10 overs. With 15 more overs remaining in the day's play, it seems as if the meaningless affair for the last two days will be stretched into the last day's play. Goa 128 for 5.

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Bengal's Arnab Nandi tries to pull a delivery to leg. - BISWARANJAN ROUT
 

Andhra vs Saurashtra | Saurashtra now leads by 633. It's 350 for 8 in the second innings, and yet it continues to bat. Dharmendrasinh Jadeja is batting on 44, and Chetan Sakariya has joined him, after Prerak Mankad was dismissed for 85.

J&K vs Karnataka | Karnataka's lead has crossed 150. It'll be difficult for J&K to make a comeback from here. Our correspondent Shreedutta Chidananda says : Karnataka will now simply bat J&K out of the game. This is done as a contest.

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A view of the action in Ongole. - WRIDDHAAYAN BHATTACHARYYA
 

Odisha vs Bengal | The visitors have taken a massive lead as they cross the 400-run mark. Odisha has to do something extraordinary to stir an upset. Bengal 319 for 6. Leads by 401 runs.

Goswami departs, dismissed lbw by Preet Singh Chohan. He falls for 78. Shahbaz and Arnab Nandi have added 60 runs already, for the seventh wicket.

Gujarat vs Goa | It's tea, in Valsad. Here's Amol Karhadkar : Umpire Nandan extends his love affair with Snehal Kauthankar. After adjudging Kauthankar lbw despite a thick inside edge in the first innings, Nandan comes up with an even poorer decision to rule Kauthankar out caught behind off Desai. The batsman signalled at his thigh-pad while the Gujarat camp, led by captain Parthiv Patel, kept on appealing ferociously. Umpire Nandan stood still for well over 10 seconds before succumbing to the pressure and raising his finger. Kauthankar is flummoxed as Goa takes tea at 98 for 4.

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Bengal's Shahbaz tees off. - BISWARANJAN ROUT
 

Andhra vs Saurashtra | Saurashtra is seven wickets down. Here's Wriddhaayan : Arpit Vasavada misses his fifty by a whisker, edges a C. V. Stephen delivery to K. S. Bharat behind the stumps. Saurashtra 278 for 7. Prerak Mankad continues his fine form, smashes the second fifty of the match. Lead: 561.

If anyone's wondering why Saurashtra is batting for so long, here's a clue .

Odisha vs Bengal | It's tea time, in Cuttack. Bengal is on 269 for 5, leads by 351. Goswami is batting on 76 (131b, 11x4) and batting alongside him is Shahbaz (21, 24b, 1x4, 1x6).

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Shreevats Goswami plays a slog-sweep. - BISWARANJAN ROUT
 

Gujarat vs Goa | It's a strokeful half-century for Suyash Prabhudessai. Here's Amol : Suyash Prabhudessai is making the most of his promotion to No. 3 in the second dig. He has driven the pacers with flair, flicked spinners without any fuss. The highlight of his innings, though, was a pulled six that sailed into the gallery. He is batting on 53, 42 of which are in boundaries. Goa 85 for 3.

J&K vs Karnataka | Meanwhile, in Jammu, Karnataka is two down. Karun Nair, the No. 3, was the second batsman to be dismissed, for 15 (33b, 2x4), bowled by Abid Mushtaq. Opener Devdutt Padikkal was dismissed by off-spinner Parvez Rasool for 34.

The score: 83 for 2 after 21 overs bowled. The lead: 97.

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Govinda Poddar appeals. Abhishek Raman is the batsman. - BISWARANJAN ROUT

Odisha vs Bengal | It's a half-century for Shreevats Goswami, his 11th in first-class cricket. Bengal's lead is 322.

Gujarat vs Goa | With a fierce hook by Prabhudessai for six, the partnership moves past 50. Goa 66 for 3 after 28 overs bowled.

Odisha vs Bengal | The Bengal lead has crossed 300. Abhishek Raman has been dismissed, for 67, and it ends the partnership. Raman and Shreevats Goswami put on 102 runs for the fifth wicket.

Goswami is three runs away from his half-century. He is joined in the middle Shahbaz.

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Odisha wicketkeeper Rajesh Dhuper attempts to stump out Shreevats Goswami. - BISWARANJAN ROUT
 

Gujarat vs Goa | Suyash Prabhudessai has played some picturesque strokes in his knock so far. He is 11 runs away from a half-century. The partnership between Prabhudessai and Snehal Kauthankar is 47. Goa 60 for 3.

J&K vs Karnataka | Karnataka's second-innings total has crossed the 50 mark. The run-scoring has been rapid; it's taken the side just 10.4 overs to get there. Importantly, no wicket has been lost. Devdutt Padikkal is batting on 34 (32b, 8x4), and R. Samarth on 18 (36b, 2x4).

Andhra vs Saurashtra | Here's Wriddhaayan Bhattacharyya : Prerak Mankad is providing some entertainment; smashed three boundaries through covers in the Ricky Bhui over and moved to 34 off 31 balls.

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Cricketing action at the Sardar Patel Stadium in Valsad. - AMOL KARHADKAR
 

Odisha vs Bengal | It's a half-century for Bengal's Abhishek Raman. The 200 is up for Bengal, and the lead has ballooned to 283. Shreevats Goswami needs another 16 runs to bring up his own fifty. The partnership is worth 86.

Gujarat vs Goa | Here's Amol Karhadkar on the post-lunch session so far : Arzan Nagwasawalla in his first over after lunch gave his friends and family members who have travelled 35-odd kilometres to watch the local boy in action a reason to rejoice by squaring up Goa captain Amit Verma. Since then, with Siddharth Desai also keeping it tight from the other end, the roars of "Come on, Arzan" from the stands and "Come on, Bawa" have been relentless for the last half hour. Suyash Prabhudesai and Snehal Kauthankar are hanging in there. Goa 31 for 1.

Andhra vs Saurashtra | Saurashtra lead is now past 500. The seventh-wicket pair has added 23 runs in 7.2 overs. The team will not be hard-pressed to declare the innings closed quickly; there's plenty of time left in the contest.

Gujarat vs Goa | Goa is three down, as Amit Verma, the captain, was dismissed bowled by A. Nagwaswalla soon after lunch.

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It's drinks, at the CSR Sharma Ground in Ongole. - WRIDDHAAYAN BHATTACHARYYA
 

Odisha vs Bengal | Bengal's lead is past 250. Abhishek Raman is five runs away from a half-century, and Shreevats Goswami is batting on 21. It's a productive partnership between the two; it's worth 56 now. Bengal 171 for 4 in the 86th over of the innings.

Andhra vs Saurashtra | It's lunch, in Ongole. Here's Wriddhaayan with the latest : For the third time in the match, a session ends with a wicket off the last ball. Chirag Jani 23 (49b, 4x2) is stumped by K. S. Bharat off Sai Krishna. Despite his side losing, Bharat is having quite a match. Two stumpings and five catches so far.

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Preet Singh Chohan appeals for a dismissal. The batsman is Shreevats Goswami. - BISWARANJAN ROUT
 

Gujarat vs Goa | It's lunch. Goa has already lost two wickets in its second innings. Sumiran Amonkar was dismissed on the stroke of lunch, by Siddharth Desai, the left-arm spinner.

Here's Amol : Left-arm spinner Siddharth Desai is introduced for one last over before lunch and it takes just two balls for him to trick Sumiran Amonkar into edging to Samit Gohel at first slip. Goa tottering at 10 for 2 as teams head back to the change room for the break.

J&K vs Karnataka | Karnataka has the first-innings lead, as three wickets fell for no run. Here's the real-time update from Shreedutta :

Abdul Samad punched Suchith through point for four. But a wild hoick next ball and he was out caught and bowled. J&K was only 14 behind. Could have finished it off in singles. Unnecessary shot.

J&K 192 for 8. Tension. Prasidh traps Aquib Nabi leg before. 192 for 9.

All over. Prasidh krishna has just smashed through Umar Nazir’s defence. And sprinted off in celebration. J&K loses 3 for 0. Karnataka takes the all important first-innings lead. A lead of 14.

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Anurag Sarangi bowls. - BISWARANJAN ROUT
 

J&K vs Karnataka | Jammu & Kashmir is just 14 runs behind Karnataka now. Abdul Samad is seven runs away from a half-century.

Odisha vs Bengal | It's lunch, at the DRIEMS Ground in Cuttack. Two wickets fell for Bengal this morning; captain Manoj Tiwary and Anustup Majumdar, who scored a century in the first innings, departed cheaply. Abhishek Raman (38 n.o., 133b, 4x4) and Shreevats Goswami (17 n.o., 49b, 1x4) have added 36 runs for the fifth wicket.

The score: 151 for 4, in the second innings. Lead: 233.

J&K vs Karnataka | J&K is inching closer to the lead. The eighth wicket pair of Abdul Samad (39 n.o., 44b, 5x4, 1x6) and Auqib Nabi (9 n.o., 15b, 1x4) have added 14 runs together. It's still anyone's game.

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Bengal's Shreevats Goswami plays one through the off-side. - BISWARANJAN ROUT
 

Gujarat vs Goa | Goa is one down. Here's Amol Karhadkar : While all eyes are on Jammu, Roosh Kalaria draws first blood for Gujarat in the third over. Leftie Vaibhav Govekar's uppish drive is caught at covers leaning forward. The umpires go upstairs to check if Kalaria had overstepped. Third umpire Anil Dandekar takes so long to make the decision that by the time he presses the red button, Kalaria had reached fine-leg, ready for a breather since it was the last ball of his over. 5 for 1.

Andhra vs Saurashtra | Here's Wriddhaayan Bhattacharyya : Everybody is bored to death here in Ongole. Barely 10 to 15 people around, even the officials are nowhere to be seen. Saurashtra is having a nice practice session in the middle, picking easy singles and jogging for runs.

Wicket: Sheldon Jackson perhaps heard me. He tried to step out to Sai Krishna and got stumped.

Sheldon Jackson 25 (49b, 4x4); Saurashtra 163 for 5 (lead by 446).

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A patient wait: Teams waiting for a verdict on whether Roosh Kalaria had overstepped, to validate Vaibhav Govekar's dismissal. - AMOL KARHADKAR
 

J&K vs Karnataka | More drama, at the Govt. Gandhi Memorial Science College Ground in Jammu. Here's Shreedutta : This game is in all likelihood a one innings shootout. Everything depends on this next half hour. A risky single. And Karnataka is convinced it has run Abid Mushtaq out. Referred. Yes. That’s run out. Suicidal single. 168 for 7. 38 behind.

Gujarat vs Goa | Gujarat has declared. Here's Amol Karhadkar, reporting from Valsad : Suyash Prabhudesai moves the ball in and traps Axar lbw. And that prompts Parthiv to declare the innings. A declaration that has been delayed by sessions. With 71 overs still to be played on Day Four, can Goa frustrate Gujarat and extend the match into the last day? Or will Gujarat bowlers ensure it'll return to Mumbai tonight?

The target for Goa is a meagre 629 runs off a minimum of 161 overs.

J&K vs Karnataka | Karnataka is on the ascendant in Jammu. Here's Shreedutta Chidananda with the latest : 144 for 4. Lead 63 away. Game in the balance. Tense here in Jammu. And as I say that Khajuria is gone. Went for a drive away from his body. Caught behind. 144 for 5. Karnataka feel they can run through J&K here.

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How's that: Odisha wicketkeeper Rajesh Dhuper appeals. - BISWARANJAN ROUT
 

Andhra vs Saurashtra | Here's our correspondent Wriddhaayan Bhattacharyya sending an update from the CSR Sharma Ground in Ongole : Smd. Rafi struck twice this morning, dismissing Barot bowled, for 54 (119b, 7x4), and trapping Vishvaraj Jadeja (46, 99b) in front of the stumps. Saurashtra's score: 137 for 4.

Gujarat vs Goa | Parthiv has departed. Lakshay Garg continues to strike; Parthiv flicks it straight to square-leg. Gujarat five down now, for 185.

Lakshay has been on fire this morning.

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Govinda Poddar celebrates with his team-mates after the dismissal of Anustup Majumdar. - BISWARANJAN ROUT
 

J&K vs Karnataka | Shubham Singh Pundir has been dismissed leg-before-wicket by M. Prasidh, at the Govt. Gandhi Memorial Science College Ground in Jammu. Here's more from Shreedutta Chidananda, our correspondent, who is at the venue: It has taken seven overs on Day Four but Karnataka finally has another wicket. Shubham pundir out lbw to Prasidh Krishna for 25. And there’s another! Prasidh has taken the key wicket of Parvez Rasool. Rasool is out for 1. Steers Prasidh straight into the hands of Pandey at first slip. That was like catching practice.

J&K 109 for 4 and under pressure. Prasidh has looked really dangerous. He has bowled five overs today. J&K needs 98 more runs to take the first-innings lead.

Meanwhile, Shubham Khajuria, the opener, has reached his half-century.

Gujarat vs Goa | Wickets have fallen at the Sardar Patel Stadium in Valsad. Here's our correspondent Amol Karhadkar : Lakshay Garg was listless for the first three days but he has come into his elements on the fourth morning, accounting for three Gujarat batsmen, including the overnight duo, in his first two overs. He has managed to hit the right length and also move the ball in, resulting in Bhargav Merai (50) being dismissed bowled off his third ball. In the next over, he traps Manprit Juneja (4) and Samit Gohel (72) in front of the wickets.

At 166 for 4, Parthiv Patel joins Chirag Gandhi at the crease. With the manner in which Gujarat bowlers were relaxed during the warm-ups, Gujarat seems to be in no mood to declare. It leads by 595.

Odisha vs Bengal | The 100 is up for Bengal, in the second innings, but for the loss of three wickets, after Manoj Tiwary departed in the first half hour of play on Day Four, for 6. The Bengal captain was dismissed leg-before-wicket by Debabrata Pradhan. The score: 104 for 3. The lead is 186.

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Karnataka will need to get eight wickets and disallow J&K from taking the first-innings lead — it needs 119 more runs to get there — to gain a decisive advantage in the interesting quarterfinal battle at the Govt. Gandhi Memorial Science College Ground in Jammu. J&K, on the other hand, will fancy its chances of taking the lead, after gaining a useful start to its innings on Day Three. We'll bring you all the updates from Jammu, via our correspondent Shreedutta Chidananda.

The DRIEMS Ground in Cuttack is witness to another interesting battle, between Odisha and Bengal. Bengal has the advantage in this one, though, as it has an overall lead of 161 runs, after having bowled Odisha out for 250 in the first innings on Saturday. To be sure, much would rely on Bengal's middle order; a good start will soothe Bengal's nerves.

The quarterfinal contests in Ongole and in Valsad are turning out to be one-sided. However, twists and turns are part of the action, and we will know in time whether Gujarat and Saurashtra are able to clinch the win today.

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