Saurashtra 527 (Vasavada 202, Jackson 160, Kaverappa 5-83) and 117 for 6 (Vasavada 47*, Koushik 3-32, Gowtham 3-38) beat Karnataka 407 (Agarwal 249, Sharath 66, Sakariya 3-73, Kushang 3-109) and 234 (Jose 109, Agarwal 55, Sakariya 4-45, Jadeja 4-69) by four wickets

Saurashtra are fast establishing themselves as one of the most consistent domestic teams in Indian cricket. Next week in Kolkata, they will have an opportunity to add the Ranji crown to their trophy cabinet, alongside the Vijay Hazare Trophy they won in December.

Soon enough, it was clear he was asked to attack. Sakariya, who picked up four second-innings wickets to help bowl out Karnataka for 234, used the slog sweep to good effect as he walloped Gowtham against the turn for two massive sixes over deep midwicket. Shreyas Gopal, the legspinner, wasn't spared either as Sakariya sent him into the second tier. Suddenly, nerves gave way to a sense of freedom as Saurashtra started whittling down the runs.

Sakariya made 24 in his partnership of 63 with Vasavada. When he fell to V Koushik, Saurashtra were within ten runs of victory, which was sealed when Prerak Mankad hit a boundary in the 35th over of their innings, much to the delight of the entire team that sprinted onto the field.

At the other end, Vasavada, who stonewalled his way to 202 in the first innings, stood triumphant on an unbeaten 47, wiping beads of sweat and embracing his teammates in a warm hug. His side set up another date with Bengal, the team they had beaten in the 2019-20 final to seal their maiden title.

The bowlers gave Karnataka a fighting chance, but once again - as has been for a while now - it was a case of being so near yet so far.