Anubhav Agarwal ran through Andhra's batting lineup with a superb six-wicket haul to propel Madhya Pradesh into the semifinals of the Ranji Trophy following a four-run victory over Andhra in Indore on Monday. (More Cricket News)
In a low-scoring quarterfinal played at the Holkar Stadium, bowler👍s ruled the roost for the majority of t💟he contest and despite a spirited fight from the visiting side, Madhya Pradesh prevailed to make it to the final four.
With this win, the 2021-22 champ🐻ions Madhya Pradesh became the second team after Tamil Nadu to enter the semifinals.
On what turned out to be the final day, Andhra 🐈were bowled 𒁃out for a mere 165 chasing 170 to win on the fourth day.
Resuming at 95/4 and with their senior batter Hanuma Vihari on strike with 75 runs more𒉰 needed to w♊in, Andhra were the more confident side but Agarwal led a stunning fightback once again for Madhya Pradesh.
Having taken three wickets in the first innings to help Madhya Pradesh take a vita♍l lead of 62 runs, Agarwal terro🌼rised the Andhra batters in the second innings to return figures of 6/52 from 19 overs.
Kulwant Khejroliya picked 2/40 while Kumar Kartikeya and Saransh Jain bagged one wicket 🔥apiece.
Agarwal struck thrice to put Madhya Pradesh in complete command when he had ꩵovernight batter Karan Shinde (14) trapped l♉eg-before in the 51st over of the innings.
In his next over, Agarwal had Vihari (55 off 136 balls, 5 fours) caught by wicketkeeper♎ Himanshu Mantri and pinned Shoaib Mohammed Khan (0) in front of the wickets for a first-bཧall duck.
While Khejroliya removed KV Sasikanth (7), Andhra threatened to take the game away from MP's grasp with a 32-run stand for ﷽the ninth wicket between Girinath Reddy (15 off 42 balls) and Ashwin Hebbar (22 off 52 balls).
Agarwal found a timely breakthrough🌠 getting rid of Girinath, which made the task more difficult for Andhra who needed another nine runs♒ with one wicket in hand.
With five runs needed for Andhra to win, Khejro♏liya trapped No 7 Hebbar (22 off 42 balls) to dඣeliver a narrow win for his side.
For his match haul of 9/85, Agarwal was declared the pla💮yer of the match.
Brief scores: Madhya Pradesh 234 & 107 beat Andhr🐻a 172 & 165 in 69.2 overs (Hanuma Vihari 55; Anubhav Agarwal 6/52)🍒 by 4 runs.
