Hubli: Karnataka swept to a 10-wicket victory against Punjab for whom a fighting century by Gurkeerat Singh (157, 197b, 20x4) went in vain in the Group A Ranji Trophy league match here Tuesday.
The other winners in the seventh round were Jammu and Kashmir, who beat Assam by nine wickets in a Group C clash at the Gandhi Memorial Science College Ground, Jammu.
Punjab, 331 runs in arrears on first innings, resumed at their overnight score of 156 for five, and avoided an innings defeat as they posted 361, courtesy Gurkeerat Singh and his 186-run partnership for the sixth wicket with Gitansh Khera (84, 134b, 9x4). The duo only delayed the inevitable as Punjab set a target of 30 runs that Karnataka ticked off in just 4.5 overs.
Karnataka thus recorded their third win in six matches to top Group A with 26 points while Punjab remained on 17 after crashing to their second defeat.
Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir also went joint top of Group C, tied on points 24 points with Himachal Pradesh, who have played a game more.
At Mumbai, a gritty effort by Odisha's top order denied the hosts full points and a chance to top Group A. Natraj Behera's dogged 127 not out kept the Mumbai bowlers at bay and helped his team register a point.
In Delhi, Railways missed a golden chance to open a big gap at the top of Group A standings as bad light and fog hampered their entire match against Tamil Nadu.
Railways first innings collapse which saw them being bowled out for 169 also didn't do the team any favours as Tamil Nadu took home three points courtesy their higher first innings score of 246.
Railways still top the group with 21 points, one more than Uttar Pradesh in second.
