UP knock Tamil Nadu out on run rate

Uttar Pradesh went past Tamil Nadu in their Ranji one-day quarterfinal at the Ferozshah Kotla in Delhi after rain came down barely a third into the Tamil Nadu innings and forced an abandonment of the match. As per the rules, UP proceeded to the next round, based on the superior run rate in earlier matches played.

Tamil Nadu won the toss and put Uttar Pradesh in, and the decision appeared to pay off as the first two wickets, including that of Mohammad Kaif, for a duck, fell with only 36 runs on the board. But Tanmay Srivastava then anchored the innings, batting carefully and through the innings to rack up a century. Srivastava was unbeaten on 102, off 136 balls, with nine fours.

But, apart from Srivastava, there was no-one to stand up to the bowling for Uttar Pradesh, apart from Parvinder Singh, who chipped in with 40 at No. 6. Uttar Pradesh ended their 50 overs on 258 for 7. In response, Tamil Nadu were in a spot of early bother, losing both their openers for only 44 runs. M Vijay began carefully, as is his wont, and was on 8 from 27 balls when he was lbw to RP Singh. S Anirudha, who was dismissed on 31, was the last man to go when rain came down with the score on 62 for 2 from 18 overs.

With no further play possible, and no reserve day on hand, Uttar Pradesh advanced to the semifinal on the basis of their superior run-rate from previous games.