Andhra enter Merchant semis

Andhra competed an innings and 57 run victory over Tripura inside two days in their Vijay Merchant Trophy quarter final match at Kollam's Ashramam Mythanam today. After conceding a first innings lead of 206, Tripura's batsmen gave a better account of themselves in the second essay. Four batsmen reached double figures with R Banik's 61 off 93 balls being the top score. An 80 run fifth wicket stand between Banik and Uday Debbarma gave Tripura some solace. GS Rao (5-18) then broke through the resistance of the lower order, taking the last five wickets as Tripura folded up for 149. Earlier Andhra extended their innings from the overnight 200-6 to 256. B Sriharsha and T Jitesh's seventh wicket association had reached 101 before the former departed for 90 (185 balls, 11 fours, 1 six). Tripura new ball bowler D Jamatia bagged 4-72.

Mumbai assumed complete control of their quarter final match against Rajasthan at the Medical College Ground, Thiruvananthapuram, by the end of the second day today. Resuming at 258-8 their innings terminated at 273 with opener SL Dalvi carrying his bat for 134 (272 balls, 12 fours, 1 six). Mumbai then knocked over Rajasthan for 85 as captain H Ravle led by example, taking 7-5 in 13.2 overs. Rajasthan were 47 without loss from 15.3 overs at one stage. Then came the crash as all ten wickets plummeted for 38. Mumbai went ahead to 81-2 in their second innings at stumps, compiling an overall lead of 269.

Uttar Pradesh were handed the initiative by Baroda's batsmen on the first day of their quarter final at the LN College of Physical Education Ground, Thiruvananthapuram. S Upadhya's haul of 5-45 helped to send Baroda on their way for 128. Indeed UP let slip the good work by allowing Baroda's last pair of AH Bochare (36) and BS Kahar (16 not out) to notch up a 51 run stand. An identical 51 run stand (unbroken) between S Dixit (19) and R Elahi (35) led to a UP rally from 93-5 to 144-5 by stumps.

There was absolutely nothing to choose between Delhi and Tamil Nadu at the end of Day 1 of their quarter final game at the VAC Ground, Thiruvananthapuram, today. Delhi won the toss and invited TN to take first strike. The latter stumbled from a promising 87-1 to be all out for 157. Delhi's opening bowler N Aggarwal took 5-28 while TN's opening batsman KKD Karthik top scored with 40. In reply Delhi had lost half their side by stumps for 78, just under half TN's total. They had a mini collapse of their own from 49 without loss to 59-5. TN skipper Aaditya Srikkanth claimed 3-12 from 10 overs.