Bengal and Karnataka advance to the semifinals

Bengal and Karnataka advance to the semifinals

Karnataka vs Uttarakhand

Shreyas Gopal and Vijaykumar Vyshak's three-fers helped Karnataka defeat Uttarakhand by 281 runs and score 209 in their innings to advance to the Ranji Trophy semifinals. Uttarakhand began the day needing at least 384 runs to force Karnataka to bat again, but they were unable to really fight. Swapnil Singh made a brave 51 before becoming Vyshak's first of the day and ending the overnight unbeaten half-century stand early on Friday morning. M Ventaktesh picked a fifer in the first innings. With his fifth first-class century (161) and a 3 for 26, Gopal then ran through the tail to win the Player of the Match award for his outstanding all-around performance.

Bengal vs Jharkhand

Bengal pipped Jharkhand by nine wickets at Eden Gardens to book their semis spot. Already reeling under a 155-run first innings lead, Jharkhand needed a miracle when they resumed their day at 162/7 but despite a gutsy 41 not out from Supriyo Chakraborty they could only post 221 in their second essay. Needing 67 to make it to the semis, the hosts lost opener Kazi Saifi cheaply in the fourth over of the modest chase but the second-wicket pair of Abhimanyu Easwaran (28*) and Sudip Kumar Gharami (26*) saw them through without any further hiccups.