Vidarbha produced a spectacular bowling performance to crush Tamil Nadu by an innings and 100 runs in their Ranji Trophy 2025 quarterfinal clash at Nagpur's VCA Stadium. The comprehensive victory sends a strong message to other title contenders as Vidarbha booked their spot in the semifinals.
Bowlers Run Riot as Tamil Nadu Collapse Twice
After posting a formidable first-innings total of 438, Vidarbha's bowling unit turned the screws on Tamil Nadu, bundling them out for 217 in the first innings and an even more disappointing 121 in the second. The visitors simply had no answer to Vidarbha's disciplined attack across both innings.
Karnewar's Magical Spell Seals the Deal
The star of the show was undoubtedly left-arm spinner Akshay Karnewar, who ripped through Tamil Nadu's batting lineup with a magnificent five-wicket haul in the second innings. His figures of 5/33 in 16.2 overs completely dismantled any resistance from the southern giants.
"Karnewar's spell was pure magic," said a cricket analyst following the match. "He varied his pace beautifully and the Tamil Nadu batters had no clue how to handle him."
First Innings Foundation Sets Up Victory
Vidarbha's dominance began with their batting performance, where they amassed 438 runs despite Tamil Nadu's bowlers putting up a fight. This substantial total gave their bowlers ample cushion to attack relentlessly.
The bowling department responded magnificently, with Harsh Dubey and Yash Thakur providing crucial breakthroughs in the first innings before Karnewar's second-innings heroics completed the rout.
What This Means for the Tournament
This emphatic victory establishes Vidarbha as genuine title contenders. The team displayed perfect balance between batting depth and bowling firepower, a combination that could prove decisive in the knockout stages.
Tamil Nadu, meanwhile, will head back to the drawing board after a disappointing exit. Their batting failures in both innings exposed technical deficiencies that need urgent addressing before the next season.
The Ranji Trophy 2025 continues to deliver thrilling cricketing action, with Vidarbha now awaiting their semifinal opponents as they chase domestic cricket's ultimate prize.
