Ranji Trophy Semi-Finals Day 5 Highlights: Vidarbha Set For Title Clash As Kerala Make History With Maiden Final Berth

Kerala 457 vs Gujarat 429/7 (154)

💧Vidarbha 383 & 292; Mumbai 270 & 83/3 (31)

Mumbai will be relying on first inning centurion Akash Anand, who is still at the crease alongside Shivam Dube to provide some resistance. There's still some batting to come for the reigning champions - Suryakumar Yadav , Shams Mulani , Shardul Thakur , Tanush Kotian.

🍌Jaymeet Patel (78) and Siddharth Desai (25) continue their stubborn stand as Gujarat reach 434/7 in 159 overs, still trailing Kerala by 23 runs.

💃The duo has put on a 77-run partnership off 250 balls.

KER: 457

GUJ: 434/7 (159.1)

Mumbai still need 288 runs to win.

𝓡Suryakumar Yadav (23 off 20) fell to a stunning delivery from Harsh Dubey, leaving Mumbai in trouble. Akash Anand (38 off 128)* and Shams Mulani (1 off 7)* are at the crease, facing an uphill battle.

MUM: 270 & 118/5 (43)

🍎Shardul Thakur (17) and Shams Mulani (18) are putting up a fight for Mumbai, stitching a 32-run stand as they reach 156/6. With 250 runs still needed and time running out, Mumbai's hope rest on this partnership.

MUM: 270 & 156/6 (58.2)

⛎Mumbai 180/6 at Lunch vs Vidarbha at the post of lunch.

Kerala are on the verge of securing its first-ever Ranji Trophy final berth after having secured a tense two-run first-innings lead over Gujarat at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Friday.

At lunch

Kerala 26/0 vs Gujarat

🦂Kerala have lost two wickets post-lunch against Gujarat in their semi-final match against Gujarat. The two wickets to fall for Kerala were Akshay Chandran and Varun Nayanar.

Kerala 32/2 vs Gujarat

🐎Just when one thought Mumbai were about to give up hope, in steps Shardul Thakur and Shams Mulani. The duo have stitched up a 50-plus run partnership for the seventh wicket as Mumbai need under-200 runs to win. Can they?

🌟Mumbai received a jolt in the form of Shams Mulani's run-out dismissal. Just as they were going on nicely in the run-chase, Vidarbha claim their seventh wicket and inch ever-so closer to the final.

🦹Mumbai are eight down against Vidarbha and are on the cusp of exiting the tournament.

Mumbai 254/8 vs Vidarbha

🐭Tanush Kotian's semi-resistance ends and Mumbai are nine down as Vidarbha close in on a famous win.

ℱTea Break - Kerala 457 & 93/4 (39), lead by 95 runs

🧸Mumbai 317/9, still 89 runs away from victory against Vidarbha. Roystian Dias and Mohit Avasthi have added a fighting 44 off just 50 balls, keeping Mumbai’s hopes alive in this thrilling chase.

That is a big blow to Mumbai!

𝄹All out for 325, falling 80 runs short as Vidarbha seal their spot in a second consecutive final. Harsh Dubey wraps it up in style, completing his five-wicket haul as Mohit Avasthi misses a reverse sweep and is trapped lbw for 34 off 43 balls, including four boundaries and a six.

ꦏKerala have secured their maiden Ranji Trophy final berth after edging out Gujarat with a narrow two-run first-innings lead at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The match ends in a draw as players from both sides shake hands, but Kerala’s decision to declare at 114/4 proves enough to seal their place in the final for the first time in history.

🏅That’s it! After months of intense First-Class cricket, we have our Ranji Trophy finalists. Vidarbha and Kerala will battle it out for the title at the VCA Stadium in Nagpur from February 26 to 30.

💙Kerala secured their maiden final berth after a dramatic final day against Gujarat, while Vidarbha powered past defending champions Mumbai with an 80-run win to reach their second consecutive final.

꧅Vidarbha’s Yash Rathod and Kerala’s Mohammed Azharuddeen have been named Player of the Match for their stellar performances in the Ranji Trophy semifinals.

💙Rathod, the third-highest run-scorer of the season, delivered when it mattered, scoring 54 and a brilliant 151 against Mumbai. Meanwhile, Azharuddeen’s unbeaten 177 powered Kerala to a commanding first-innings total of 457 against Gujarat, playing a crucial role in their historic final qualification.

We'll see you all for the finals—until then, bye-bye. For those interested in hockey, there are two Indian matches today in the men's and women's FIH Pro League. Stay tuned for updates HERE.