Karnataka have carried forward their form from the multi-day matches to the one-dayers. After resounding victories in the longer formats, they trumped Gujarat to enter the semi-finals of the Vijay Hazare Trophy. While Robin Uthappa and Karun Nair struck centuries to set up the game in Karnataka's favour, Vinay Kumar and Abhimanyu Mithun ran through the Gujarat line-up by claiming four wickets each. Here are the highlights of the day:
Gujarat vs Karnataka: Karnataka beat Gujarat by 30 runs in their quarter-final match at Kolkata. Asked to bat first, Karnataka piled on 301 courtesy centuries by Robin Uthappa and Karun Nair. With Karnataka left tottering on 31 for four in the seventh over, the pair revived the innings with superb knocks. Opening the innings, Uthappa remained unbeaten on 132 as he held up one end, while the in-form middle-order batsman Karun Nair added 120 off 121 balls. With score on 240, Nair was castled by Akshar Patel with over seven overs left in the innings. However, Uthappa's determined 134-ball effort, comprising three sixes and 10 fours, ensured the team from South Zone posted a hefty total on the board.
Defending the sizeable target, Vinay Kumar set the tone of the innings by sending back Parthiv Patel for four. Abhimanyu Mithun then claimed three to leave the opposition on 74 for four. Akshar Patel posted a fighting 93 off 78 balls, but his knock went in vain the rest of the line-up caved in to the Karnataka bowlers. HS Sharath claimed the key wicket of Akshar, while the other two pacers did the rest of the line-up in. Gujarat were eventually bowled out for 271 with 10 balls to spare.
