Thaindian News

Chennai, Jan 4 (IANS) Haryana defeated fancied Karnataka by six wickets to become the first team to enter the semifinals of the 2011-12 Ranji Trophy season. Defending champions Rajasthan Wednesday looked set to join them after forcing Hyderabad to follow on.

Haryana, who could not go beyond the quarters in the last three seasons, broke the jinx by achieving the 144-run target set by Karnataka on Day Three of the match at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore.

Karnataka, resuming at 122 for three in their second innings, were bowled out for 262, thanks to a clinical bowling display by Haryana. Fast bowler Sachin Rana took three wickets while medium-pacer Mohit Sharma chipped in with two. The visitors gained the first innings lead after making 272 in response to Karnataka’s 151 in which little- known Harshal Patel bagged eight wickets.

At Hyderabad, Rajasthan maintained their stranglehold on the match despite a spirited fightback by the home team.

Hyderabad had to follow on after being skittled out for 144 in their first innings, chasing Rajasthan’s mammoth 421. There was some resistance from hosts in the second knock as skipper Ravi Teja and Akshath Reddy struck were involved in an unbroken 138-run stand for the opening wicket. Hyderabad still trail by 139 runs.

At Chennai, Maharasthra, trailing by 183 runs on the first innings, made a spirited reply in their second outing and were 90 without loss against Tamil Nadu.

Tamil Nadu, who were 259 for four overnight after dismissing Maharashtra for 232, went on to make 415 with Vijaykumar Yo Mahesh scoring a brisk 59 to boost the total.

None of Tamil Nadu’s in-form middle-order batsmen could manage to build on the good starts they had with Subramaniam Badrinath (49), K Vasudevadas (36) and Ramaswamy Prasanna (19) not staying long enough.

In their second innings, Maharashtra openers Harshad Khadiwale (31) and Chirag Khurana (55) batted as solidly as they had done on the opening day when they put on a 116-run partnership.

At Indore, Madhya Pradesh were 250 for three in their second innings after Ankit Chavan’s unbeaten 102 pushed Mumbai to 434 in the first innings. Kaustubh Pawar could only add a run to his overnight score of 160.

The home team, which made 192 on the opening day, came up with a better batting display with captain Naman Ojha (85) and Mohnish Mishra (55 batting) leading the fightback.

Brief scores (quarterfinals):

At Hyderabad: Rajasthan 421 in 167.1 overs vs. Hyderabad 144 and 138/0 in 43 overs(Ravi Teja batting 58, Akshath Reddy 77).

At Bangalore: Karnataka 151 and 262 in 76.5 overs (Robin Uthappa 53, Ganesh Sathish 33; Sachin Rana 3/42) vs. Haryana 272 and 144/4 in 36.2 overs (Nitin Saini 52, Rahul Dewan 25; Stuart Binny 1/37, SL. Akshay 2/31).
Result: Haryana won by six wickets

At Indore: Madhya Pradesh 192 and 250/3 in 64 overs (Naman Ojha 85, Mohnish Mishra batting 61 vs. Mumbai 434 in 146.4 overs (Kaustubh Pawar 161, Ankeet Chvan not out 102.; TP Sudhindra 5/96, Murtaza Ali 2/26)

At Chennai: Maharashtra 232 and 90/0 in 29 overs (Harshad Khadiwale batting 31, Chirag Khurana batting 55)vs. Tamil Nadu 415 in 143.2 overs (Abhinav Mukund 95, Murali Vijay 79, Yo Mahesh 59; Samad Fallah 3/80, Akshay Darekar 3/126).