• Source:JND
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Vidarbha vs Tamil Nadu, Ranji Trophy: Vidarbha stormed into the Ranji Trophy semifinals with a commanding 198-run victory over Tamil Nadu on day four, thanks to seamer Nachiket Bhute’s three-wicket haul and Yash Rathod’s composed century.

Vidarbha will now face defending champions Mumbai in the semifinal on February 17, setting up a rematch of last season’s final.

Bhute delivered a stellar performance, finishing with figures of 3/19 in 10 overs, while Rathod anchored the innings with a patient 213-ball 112. Their combined efforts ensured Vidarbha maintained their dominant run in the tournament.

Chasing a daunting 401-run target, Tamil Nadu crumbled under pressure. Despite boasting a strong batting lineup, they found themselves struggling at 45/5 by the end of day three. Bhute played a key role in dismantling the top order, dismissing Narayan Jagadeesan (18), Vijay Shankar (5), and Boopathi Kumar (0), leaving Tamil Nadu with no way back.

Though Pradosh Ranjan Paul struck a laboured 53 (95 balls) and tail-ender Sonu Yadav showed oodles of determination on way to a gritty 57 (84 balls), it was too little too late as TN's batting folded up for 202 in 61.1 overs, with left-arm spinner Harsh Dubey (3/40) doing the damage at the fag end by taking the last three wickets.

Vidarbha, who entered day four leading by 297 runs, did well to demoralise Tamil Nadu by adding 103 more runs to their overnight score, losing the remaining five wickets in the process.

Rathod, who was unbeaten on 55 overnight, was the pick of the Vidarbha batters as he gradually grew in confidence to score his fifth first-class century in 16 first-class games, though he consumed 213 deliveries in the process.

His 120-run partnership with Harsh Dubey (64) helped Vidarbha consolidate their position from overnight 169/5 to 272 all out in 92.3 overs as last season's runners-up took a massive 400-run lead.

Tamil Nadu's second innings started in an almost similar fashion as the first as wickets fell in a heap with right-arm pacer Aditya Thakare striking the first blow by dismissing Mohammed Ali for 10. Bhute then took over by reducing the opponents to 45/5 in just the 17th over before Pradosh Ranjan put up a semblance of a fight with a half century.

But his dismissal virtually paved the way for Vidarbha's victory with Sonu Yadav only delaying the inevitable with a half-century.

Brief scores: Vidarbha: 353 & 272 in 92.3 overs (Yash Rathod 112, Harsh Dubey 64; Sai Kishore Sai Kishore 5/78, Ajith Ram 2/33) vs Tamil Nadu: 225 & 202 in 61.1 overs (Pradosh Ranjan Paul 53, Sonu Yadav 57; Nachiket Bhute 3/19, Harsh Dubey 3/40). Vidarbha beat Tamil Nadu by 198 runs.