Saurashtra chasemasters

Lucknow, January 19 

Harvik Desai hit his maiden First Class century to help Saurashtra pull off the highest run chase in the Ranji Trophy history, beating Uttar Pradesh by six wickets to enter the semifinals.

Opener Desai was well-supported by Snell Patel (72), Cheteshwar Pujara (67*) and Sheldon Jackson (73*) as Saurashtra pulled off a 372-run chase by losing just four wickets in 115.1 overs. Saurashtra, thus, broke the previous highest run-chase record of 371 set by Assam against Services in the 2008-09 season. Saurashtra will face Karnataka in the semifinals, while Vidarbha will lock horns with Kerala in the other last-4 match.

Starting the day at 195/2, still 177 adrift, Desai started brightly for Saurashtra but soon lost the other overnight batsman, Kamlesh Makvana, for 7, dismissed by Yash Dayal. Desai was dismissed by Saurabh Kumar, who had been wicketless in the match till then. The 19-year-old Desai fell after nicking the ball to the Uttar Pradesh wicketkeeper. His 116 came off 259 balls with the help of 16 boundaries.

With Saurashtra still needing 136 runs, Pujara and Jackson batted sensibly and took Saurashtra to 298/4 at lunch. With wickets not coming their way, the UP players looked dispirited after lunch and Saurashtra clinched the win just an hour into the second session.

Vidarbha rout Uttarakhand

Reigning champions Vidarbha routed minnows Uttarakhand by an innings and 115 runs to make it to the semifinals. Umesh Yadav (5/23) and slow left arm orthodox bowler Aditya Sarvate (5/55) grabbed five wickets each to dismantle Uttarakhand for 159 in the second innings.

Brief Scores: UP: 385 and 194; Saurashtra: 208 and 372/4 in 115.1 overs (Harvik Desai 116, Sheldon Jackson 73*, Snell Patel 72, Cheteshwar Pujara 67*; Akashdeep Nath 1/17).

Uttarakhand: 355 and 159 (Karnaveer Kaushal 76, Avneesh Sudha 28; Umesh Yadav 5/23, Aditya Sarvate 5/55); Vidarbha: 629. — PTI