Hat-trick man Mithun bowls Karnataka to win over UP
Abhimanyu Mithun registered a hat-trick on debut and his match haul of 11 wickets scripted Karnataka's comprehensive 185-run victory over hosts Uttar Pradesh in the Ranji Trophy Super League Group B match here today.
Chasing 438 for an improbable win, UP could manage 252 before being shot out in 66.2 overs with Abhimanyu, who had claimed six for 86 in the first innings, scalping five for 95 for his match haul of 11 wickets in his first class debut.
Mithun had Piyush Chawla caught by B Akhil in the third ball of the 60th over and he castled Amir Khan and RP Singh off his next two balls to complete his hat-trick.
For UP, Bhuvneshwar Kumar (63) and captain Mohammad Kaif came up with gritty centuries before Mithun ran through the middle and lower order to script an easy win that earned Karnataka five valuable points.
Resuming at 29 for one, UP lost wickets just when they needed big partnerships and Vinay Kumar started the rot, removing Ravikant Shukla in the 16th over.
A lot depended on Kaif and the Team India discard played a 54-run knock off 109 balls before Udit Kaul sent him back.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar did his best, hitting 63 off 84 balls with seven fours and two sixes in it but his entertaining knock was not enough to turn the match on its head.
Brief scores:
Karnataka: 405 & 311 for 5 declared.
Uttar Pradesh: 279 & 252.
