Mumbai, Karnataka qualify for Ranji quarters

Mumbai, Jan 1 (IANS) Thirty-nine times champions Mumbai finished third in Group A to qualify for the knock-out stages of the Ranji Trophy as they take on Baroda in the quarter-final leg here beginning Jan 6.

Karnataka also entered the last eight, earning the third and final spot in Group B as they will be up against Saurashtra at Rajkot.

In the other two quarter-final matches, Punjab will take on Jharkhand in Jamshedpur while Delhi-based Services will face Uttar Pradesh in Indore.

The encounter between Uttar Pradesh and Services will be played at a neutral venue because Services’ Palam Ground in Delhi will be staging a warm-up one-day game involving the England cricket team Jan 6.

In the league stages which concluded Tuesday, the following teams qualified from their respective groups for the last eight:

Group A: Punjab (32 points), Saurashtra (23), Mumbai (23). Saurashtra were placed second by virtue of their two outright wins at the league stage as compared to Mumbai’s one.

Group B: Uttar Pradesh (33), Baroda (22), Karnataka (21).

Group C: Services (26), Jharkhand (24).

The quarter-finals will be played Jan 6-10.

IANS 2013-01-01 18:46:15