Ranji Trophy 2022: Karan, Saurabh script historic win for UP against Karnataka

Karan Sharma led from the front with a calm and composed 93 not out as Uttar Pradesh knocked out favourites Karnataka with a five-wicket win in their Ranji Trophy quarterfinals on Wednesday. This was UP's first ever win over Karnataka on 13 occasions and it could not have come at a better time. UP are now headed for a semi-final clash against heavyweights Mumbai at the same venue from June 14. Previously, UP had lost four times and drawn nine times but never won against Karnataka.

Captaining the team in his very first season for UP, the 23-year-old Sharma, playing his fourth first-class match, showed solid temperament in their chase of 213 after Priyam Garg made an elegant 60-ball 52. Sharma, who scored a second innings century in their win over Maharashtra that sealed their quarter-final berth, once again stood like a rock. The Lucknow Super Giants batter, who faced 163 balls (119 of them dots), paced his innings brilliantly, especially at the fag end of the day.

That the slow pitch had little to offer for the pacers also played a part as Sharma happily took on Ronit More, pulling him in front of square, even on front foot. He slammed 13 fours and one six in his knock as UP fashioned a memorable win with two days to spare. The skipper found an able ally in Prince Yadav who played a patient innings of 33 not out from 73 balls (3x4, 1x6) in their unbroken match-winning partnership of 99 runs. UP had a jittery start to their chase as they lost Aryan Juyal and Samarth Singh for 28 but thereafter Garg played a counter-attacking knock and reached to his fifty in 57 balls with a six off Vidhwath Kaverappa. Just when it seemed that UP had the game on their hands, the home side titled the match in their favour after