Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25: Padikkal helps Karnataka break semifinal curse to knock out defending champion Haryana
Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25: Padikkal helps Karnataka break semifinal curse to knock out defending champion Haryana
A couple of kids were screaming their lungs out for Devdutt Padikkal (86, 113b, 8×4, 1×6), their voices echoing across the empty Kotambi Stadium, and the left-hander repaid the faith by helping Karnataka beat defending champion Haryana by five wickets in the semifinal of the Vijay Hazare Trophy here on Wednesday.
Building on his ton in the quarterfinal, Padikkal anchored a tricky 238-run chase to ensure Karnataka didn’t suffer a fourth semifinal defeat in five seasons.
After captain Mayank Agarwal’s early dismissal, Padikkal was just the cool head Karnataka needed. The 24-year-old was imperious through the off-side en route to his 72-ball half-century – his seventh consecutive fifty-plus score in 50-over List A cricket.
He rode out a challenging phase with fellow southpaw R. Smaran (76, 94b, 3×4, 3×6) during their 128-run partnership. After a 48-ball boundary drought that saw the required rate close in on six runs per over, Smaran smote Anshul Kamboj for a six, opening the floodgates as 62 runs came off the next 50 balls.
Haryana hit back with three quick wickets to add suspense, but it was too little, too late.
Earlier, after inserting Haryana on a pitch where the ball kept low, senior pacers V. Koushik and Prasidh Krishna were wayward in their lines. Rookie Abhilash Shetty was then called upon and the left-arm seamer delivered in his first over, inducing Arsh Ranga’s outside edge.
But one didn’t bring two as Himanshu Rana and skipper Ankit Kumar forged a 70-run partnership with their textbook elegance on display. The duo perished to Shreyas Gopal and Hardik Raj’s guile, before Abhilash, helped by Padikkal and Mayank’s sharp catching inside the 30-yard circle, set off a collapse that saw Haryana lose five wickets for 57 runs.
Anuj Thakral and Amit Rana added 39 runs for the last wicket in quick time, but Haryana was always falling short. Vidarbha and Maharashtra will lock horns in the other semifinal here on Thursday.
