Karan Sharma guides Uttar Pradesh to the Ranji semifinals

Karnataka fails to capitalise after setting a tricky target as the visiting team romps home by five wickets

A brilliant unbeaten 93 (163b, 13x4, 1x6) from captain Karan Sharma took Uttar Pradesh past Karnataka by five wickets in their Ranji Trophy quarterfinal encounter at Alur grounds here on Wednesday.

Karan, playing just his fourth First-Class match, showed nerves of steel to shut Karnataka out of the tournament. Karnataka added only 14 runs to its overnight tally to set a tricky target of 213, but the 24-year-old Karan made light of the task.

Karnataka had its chances on the third day, when the visitor was reduced to 28 for two and 114 for five. An unbroken 99-run sixth-wicket partnership between Karan and Prince Yadav (33 n.o.), however, crushed all hopes of a home win.

One-drop Priyam Garg (52, 60b, 6x4, 2x6) put Uttar Pradesh on the right track with an aggressive knock. Garg’s hook off pacer Vidhwath Kaverappa, which sailed well over deep square-leg, showed that Uttar Pradesh was unwilling to take a backward step.

The start of the Uttar Pradesh essay did not inspire confidence. Openers Samarth Singh and Aryan Juyal threw away their wickets, playing away from the body to offer catches behind the wicket.

Batting mainstay Rinku Singh (4) fell to a shocking error in judgment. The southpaw shouldered arms to a straight delivery from Kaverappa, only for the ball to crash into his off-stump.

Dhruv Jorel’s (9) glance off the hip was pouched by substitute wicketkeeper B.R. Sharath. The substitute was required after regular gloveman Sharath Srinivas left the field with a finger injury.