Karnataka scored a thumping 10-wicket victory over Tamil Nadu to earn five points, including a bonus, on Friday, to put themselves on course for a semi-final berth in the Ranji Trophy.
Tamil Nadu did avoid the ignominy of suffering an innings defeat but could not stop Karnataka from scoring the 28 runs needed for an outright win after being bowled out for 246 in their second innings, a little over half-an-hour after tea on the final day.
Robin Uthappa (23 not out off 13 balls, including five fours) had the lion's share in the small victory target that was achieved through a no-ball, bowled by medium pacer Yo Mahesh.
Karnataka were lucky not to miss the bonus point as Prasanna dropped Uthappa (15) at second slip before the dashing opener hit two successive boundaries.
With this victory, Karnataka are second in the Super League; they have 15 points from six matches with the last round, beginning on January 10, to go.
In their last match they play Saurashtra at Rajkot, where Rahul Dravid and Anil Kumble are likely to play for them.
Baroda lead the table with 17 points thanks to a five-wicket victory over Uttar Pradesh while Andhra stay on 12 points following a disappointing last-over draw against Delhi at Vijayawada.
Tamil Nadu, overnight 130 for 3, could get only two fruitful partnerships in their effort to avoid an innings defeat.
They did achieve that first through a 49-run stand for the fourth wicket between the two overnight unbeaten batsmen skipper -- S. Badrinath (63, 175 balls, 7 fours) and Hemang Badani (59, 214 balls, 6 fours, 2 sixes).
Later, a 51-run stand, between Badani and S. Sharath (19), for the fifth wicket followed for the visitors but this provided them little comfort. Akhil came up with two good catches at first slip to dismiss Sharath and Badani after Badrinath was caught at silly point by Barrington Rowland off Sunil Joshi.
The Karnataka spinners continued their domination even though Yo Mahesh (7 off 88 balls) and wicketkeeper K. Varun Kumar (3 off 62 balls) delayed the inevitable.
Off-spinner C Raghu (3 for 51) and the two left-arm spinners -- Sunil Joshi (3 for 87), K.P. Appanna (2 for 61) once again stole the show.
