Karnataka complete comprehensive win, qualify for knock out

Karnataka today completed a comprehensive nine-wicket win over Goa at the Dr. Rajendra Prasad Stadium at Margao. This leaves them on 24 points this season and means that they advance to the knock out stage. When they began the day, the visiting side were comfortably placed at 25 for no loss chasing a modest target of 119. The Karnataka openers J Arunkumar and Mithun Beerala combined well to push the score along. The pair looked as though they would be together when the winning runs were scored but this was not to be. Just four runs short of the hundred run mark, former Tamil Nadu cricketer Satyajit Medappa had Arunkumar caught by Rane. Arunkumar had played his part to the hilt, making 55 off just 57 balls. Known for his strokemaking, Arunkumar struck the ball to the fence ten times in his 69 minute essay.

If Goa harboured any hopes of troubling the visitors further, they were unfounded. Barrington Rowland (15 not out) joined youngster Beerala 38 not out (76 balls, 5 fours) and the two saw Karnataka through to a nine wicket victory.

Speaking to the press after the match, Karnataka manager and former India stumper Syed Kirmani said, "We were in the dumps after we lost against Kerala, but our boys fought back and rose to the occassion. Our bowlers Dodda Ganesh and Manzoor Ali Khan ripped open the Goan second innings to ensure us the outright win after Barrington Rowland and Akhil batted well to give us the first innings lead."

On a different note, Goa captain and former India cricketer Pravin Amre said that it was the batting department that let the home team down. He attributed this to the lack of match practice prior to the start of the Ranji Trophy season.