Ranji Trophy: MP beat Andhra by 4 runs in nail-biter to reach semis

In a nail-biting quarter-final encounter of the ongoing Ranji Trophy 2024, Madhya Pradesh held their nerves till the very end to go past Andhra to book their spot in the semi-finals, defeating them by 4 runs. Facing a formidable Andhra side, Madhya Pradesh became the second team to qualify for the semi-finals after Tamil Nadu, who earlier defeated Saurashtra by an innings and 33 runs.

Madhya Pradesh, having elected to bat first, posted a competitive first-innings total of 234. Yash Dubey and Himanshu Mantri spearheaded their batting effort, but it was the collective team performance that laid the groundwork for what would turn out to be a gripping contest. Andhra, in response, fought hard but fell short, posting 172 runs in their first innings, thanks to some disciplined bowling by the Madhya Pradesh bowlers.

The match took a dramatic turn in the second innings as Madhya Pradesh found themselves in a tricky position, struggling at 107 all out. With Andhra needing 170 runs for victory, the game hung in balance. Andhra Pradesh began their chase with determination, but the Madhya Pradesh bowlers had other plans. Anubhav Agarwal's exceptional spell of bowling wreaked havoc on the Andhra batting line-up, claiming six wickets and putting immense pressure on the opposition.

As the tension mounted, Andhra's middle-order batsmen tried to steady the ship, but the relentless pressure from the Madhya Pradesh bowlers kept them on the back foot. Although former skipper and star batter Hanuma Vihari (55) did try to steady the sinking ship by playing a valiant knock, it wasn't enough as the team failed to cross the line by a mere 4-run margin.

On the cusp of Lunch on Day 4, when Andhra required just 5 runs to win with one wicket remaining, MP's Kulwant Khejroliya delivered the decisive blow, dismissing the well-set Ashwin Hebbar who scored 22 off 52. Meanwhile, Anubhav Agarwal was adjudged as the Player of the Match for his exceptional bowling.

Madhya Pradesh last won the  title in the 2021-22 season and will be eyeing to win more under head coach Chandrakant Pandit. The other two quarter-finals are taking place between Vidarbha and Karnataka and Mumbai and Baroda. The semi-finals are set to start from March 2nd. The team that Madhya Pradesh will face is yet to be decided.

Also read: Tamil Nadu crush Saurashtra to book Ranji Trophy semi-final spot