Sitanshu Kotak struck a half century but failed to save Sauarashtra from defeat as Uttar Pradesh beat them by 48 runs to enter the finals of Ranji Trophy Super League here on Monday.
Chasing 162 to win, Saurashtra were all out for 113 in the first hour of the third day’s play at Motibagh Ground. Requiring 69 to win when the day began, the last three Saurashtra wickets could add just 20 runs to overnight total of 93.
The overnight batsmen Kotak (52) and Kamlesh Makwana (13) had added just 10 more runs to their the eighth-wicket partnership when Pravin Kumar broke the pair by claiming Makwana. Pravin (4-39) then castled S Jobanputra (0) and Kotak perished to Sudeep Tyagi (4-42) sealing the fate of Sauarashtra. Kotak added 11 runs to his overnight total to get his half-century, which included four hits to the fence. The 40-run stand between

SCORE BOARD

UP (I Innings): 188
UP (II Innings): 100
Saurashtra (I Innings): 127 all out
Saurashtra (II innings): Sagar Jogyani lbw Kumar 13; Jaydev Shah c Khan b S Tyagi 0; Kanyaia Vaghela c Amirkhan b S Tyagi 0; Cheteshwar Pujara c Khan b S Tyagi 9; Sitanshu Kotak b S Tyagi 52; Nikhil Rathod c Suresh Raina b P Kumar 13; Rakesh Dhruv c&b P Kumar 1; Firoz Bhambhaniya lbw P Kumar 0; Kamlesh Makwana c Amirkhan b P Kumar 13; Sandeep Jobanputra b P Kumar 0; Sandeep Maniar (not out) 1; Extras (B-2, LB-5, W-4) 11; Total (all out in 57.5 overs) 113.
Fall of wickets: 1-2, 2-2, 3-25, 4-25, 5-49, 6-50, 7-63, 8-103, 9-105.
Bowling: Pravin Kumar 22-7-39-4, Sudeep Tyagi 20.5-5-42-4, Bhuvnesh Kumar 08-2-12-1, Gupta 5-2-10-1, Piyush Chwala 2-0-03-0.