Karnataka defeated Jammu and Kashmir in a tense game on the final day to enter the Ranji Trophy semi-final where they will face Bengal. (Photo Credit: Twitter)
New Delhi:
The Ranji Trophy 2020 semi-finals is all set for a historic debut. For the first time in the history of the tournament, the Decision Review System (DRS) will be employed for the Ranji Trophy semi-final clashes between Saurashtra vs Gujarat and for Bengal vs Karnataka. In addition, each team here will be given a maximum of four referrals in an innings unlike the two reviews available per innings in a Test match. However, since there will be no Snicko, Hotspot and ball-tracker, the third umpire will have the assistance of slow-motion cameras along with spin vision to determine whether a batsman is caught or LBW during the Ranji Trophy clash.
In a report on Cricbuzz, Saurashtra Cricket Association President Jaydev Shah hailed the decision. "I welcome the decision of having DRS in Ranji Trophy. The Board should use DRS for the semifinals and finals of all its important tournaments like the Ranji Trophy, Vijay Hazare Trophy and Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy," Jaydev Shah said. The semi-finals will take place on Februay 29 with Saurashtra taking on Gujarat at the SCA stadium in Rajkot while Bengal will take on Karnataka at the Eden Gardens. The final is on March 9 and the venue is not yet confirmed.
Karnataka, who won the Vijay Hazare Trophy and the Syed Mushtaq Ali, are aiming for an unprecedented quadruple in domestic cricket. In a rain-affected game in Jammu against Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka were bowled out for 206 and Jammu and Kashmir were threatning to knock them out of the tournament at 88/2. However, Prasidh Krishna took 4/42 as Karnataka managed a slender 14-run lead. Krishnamurthy Siddharth, who had a fifty in the first innings, responded with 98 as Jammu and Kashmir were set a target of 330. Krishnappa Gowtham took 7/54 as Karnataka stormed into the semis with a 167-run win.
Anustup Majumdar hit a century as Bengal entered the Ranji semi-final after a long time. (Image credit: Twitter)
Parthiv Patel and Roosh Kalaria slammed centuries against Goa in Valsad and five-wicket hauls from Chintan Gaja and Siddharth Desai helped Gujarat register a massive 464-run win. In Ongole, Chirag Jani smashed a century and Jaydev Unadkat took 4/42 as Saurashtra took a massive 283-run lead against Andhra. Fifties from Avi Barot, Prerak Mankad, Dharmensrasinh Jadeja set Andhra an impossible target of 710 runs and the match ended in a draw.
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In Cuttack, Anustup Majumdar's 157 and his 171-run stand with Shahbaz Ahmed who hit 82 helped Bengal revive to 332 all out after being 141/6. Odisha were bowled out for 250 and armed with a lead of 82, Bengal were boosted by fifties from Abhishek Raman, Shreevats Goswami and Shahbaz and Odisha were knocked out of the tournament.
