Karnataka outplayed Tamil Nadu in a vital third-round match in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (South Zone) inter-State Twenty20 cricket tournament, here on Tuesday.
After his bowlers had restricted Tamil Nadu to 131 for nine, Karnataka captain Robin Uthappa blazed away to 59 in 29 balls to all but settle the contest. Uthappa smashed seven fours and three sixes in his innings; no Tamil Nadu bowler troubled him.
Although Sunny Kumar Singh accounted for Uthappa and Mayank Agarwal off successive deliveries, Bharath Chipli made an unbeaten 38 to take Karnataka home with 19 balls to spare.
Earlier, Tamil Nadu lost wickets at regular intervals when it batted. Dinesh Karthik continued his good form, making 52 (4x4, 6x3), and K. Shri Vasudeva Das contributed a sparkling 30 not out, but the host could only manage a sub-par total against some disciplined bowling. Medium-pacer Stuart Binny finished with figures of three for 14 from four overs.
Karnataka, which leads the table with 12 points from three games after the eight-wicket win, is in prime position to top South Zone. Tamil Nadu will have to lift itself to secure one of the two qualifying spots for the knockout phase.
Hyderabad posts win
Hyderabad has the same number of points as Tamil Nadu — eight — after it defeated Goa at Murugappa. Captain D.B. Ravi Teja made his second successive half-century (68 n.o., 49b, 4x10, 6x1), guiding his side to a nine-wicket win.
Kerala and Andhra shared the points in Tuesday's other match after rain played spoilsport.
The scores: At MAC: Tamil Nadu 131 for nine in 20 overs (Dinesh Karthik 52, K. Shri Vasudevadas 30 n.o., Stuart Binny three for 14) lost to Karnataka 135 for two in 16.5 overs (Robin Uthappa 59, Bharath Chipli 38 n.o.). Points: Karnataka 4 (Total 12), TN 0 (Total 8) .
At Murugappa: Goa 130 in 19.2 overs (Abhishek Raut 31, Syed Quadri three for 25) lost to Hyderabad 131 for one in 17.2 overs (T. Suman 45, D.B. Ravi Teja 68 n.o.). Hyderabad 4 (8), Goa 0 (0) .
Andhra 18 for no loss in 3.1 overs vs. Kerala. Match abandoned because of rain. Kerala 2 (6), Andhra 2 (2) .
