Karnataka, led by a former Amazon employee in V Koushik, cruised into the final of the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2019-20. Medium-pacer Koushik broke the back of Chhattisgarh by reducing them to 35 for 3, getting rid of the entire top three. There was a brief partnership between captain Harpreet Singh and Amandeep Khare before the former was bowled by leg-spinner Praveen Dubey. Harpreet, meanwhile, kept Chhattisgarh going in a patient innings of 78 from 102 balls as three middle-order batsmen threw away starts. Number nine Sumit Ruikar hit 40 off 37 deliveries, as Koushik ended with 4 for 46 for Karnataka, wrapping up the opposition for 223.

The script unfolded in an expected manner in the chase. In-form openers KL Rahul and Devdutt Padikkal sailed their way to a steady stand of 155, enjoying another good outing in the tournament. Devdutt attacked in an innings of 92 - his fifth consecutive fifty-plus score - cracking 7 fours and 3 sixes before falling to Ajay Mandal. But that did little to break Rahul’s momentum at the other end, who took his time to remain unbeaten on 88. The batting was further bolstered by India's Test opener Mayank Agarwal, who bashed 47* from just 33 deliveries - including 3 fours and 4 sixes - as Karnataka got home with ten overs to spare.

Brief Scores: Tamil Nadu 181 for 5 in 39 overs (Shahrukh 56*, Karthik 47; K Patel 1/18) beat Gujarat 177 for 9 in 40 overs (Raval 40, A Patel 37; Mohammed 3/23) by 5 wickets

Tamil Nadu were powered by big-hitter Shahrukh Khan in a thrilling chase of 178 against Gujarat with the game reduced to 40 overs-a-side in Bangalore. Shahrukh entered at number seven with his side at 96 for 5 and ensured Tamil Nadu did not lose any further wickets in a rapid unbeaten stand of 85 with Washington Sundar. They lost 3 for 26 in a middle-order collapse after captain Dinesh Karthik had slammed a run-a-ball 47 and that is when Shahrukh and Washinton got into the act. Shahrukh smashed three fours and sixes each in his 56* as his partner Washington played second fiddle in a supporting act of 27*.