Ranji Trophy 2022 | Uttar Pradesh qualifies for semi-finals by beating Karnataka for the first time

Uttar Pradesh created history as they beat eight-time champions Karnataka for the first time in their history to book a place in the semi-finals of the Ranji Trophy 2022. It was skipper Karan Sharma's unbeaten knock of 93 runs that helped his side cross troubled waters on Day 3, chasing a target of 213 runs in the fourth innings at Alur.

Sharma, along with Prince Yadav, stitched a 99 run-stand after losing three quick wickets. The debutant remained unbeaten on 30* from 73 balls and scored a duck in the first innings. Karnataka's Vijaykumar Vyshak did provide some inroads during the chase, taking wickets of Samarth Singh, Aryan Juyal, and Dhruv Jurel.

Former India U-19 captain Priyam Garg scored a 60-ball 53, while KKR's Rinku Singh scored just four runs before getting his stumps rattled by Vidhwath Kaverappa.

UP's Saurabh Kumar was the star for this side, picking up seven wickets in the game that saw the favour tilt both ways across three days of play. Saurabh picked four wickets in Karnataka's first innings and knocked over three in the second innings.

Earlier, UP opted to field first and wrapped the Manish Pandey-led side for 253 runs, which saw the fifties from Ravikumar Samarth and Shreyas Gopal. Shivam Mavi picked up three wickets after a poor outing with KKR in the IPL.

In reply, UP was bowled for a paltry total of 155 runs, giving their opposition a 98-run lead. Garg and Rinku scored 39 and 33, respectively. Ronit More picked up the most wickets (3), while Vyshak, Kaverappa and Krishnappa Gowtham picked two apiece.

The multiple title winners from the south could not make good use of the lead and crumbled for 114 in their second outing. Yash Dayal and Ankit Rajpoot picked up two wickets each, while Prince and Mavi claimed 1.

With this loss, Karnataka has been knocked out of India's premier domestic tournament.

Brief scores:

Karnataka 253 (84 overs)

Samarth R 57, Shreyas Gopal 56*;

Saurabh Kumar 4-73, Shivam Mavi 3-60

Uttar Pradesh 155 (37.3 overs)

Priyam Garg 39, Rinku Singh 33;

R More 3-47, Vidhwath Kaverappa 2-19

Karnataka 114 (39 overs)

Mayank Agarwal 22, Srinivas Sharath 23;

Saurabh Kumar 3-36, Ankit Rajpoot 2-15

Uttar Pradesh 215 -5 (65.2 overs)

Karan Sharma 93*, Priyam Garg 52;

Vijaykumar Vyshak 3-47, Vidhwath Kaverappa 1 -46

Uttar Pradesh beat Karnataka by 5 wickets