K’taka to meet Mumbai in last 8

Bengaluru: Hosts Karnataka stormed into the quarterfinals of the BCCI U-25 Trophy, beating Assam by six runs via the VJD method in a rain-interrupted match at at the M Chinnaswamy stadium here on Friday. After bowling out Karnataka for 250 in 49.1 overs, Assam had to get 148 in 33 overs but finished at 141/4. Karnataka take on Mumbai in the quarterfinals on December 6.Earlier, asked to bat, Karnataka were 26 for 2 after losing openers

Shivakumar BU

(17) and Chethan LR (4) by the seventh over. Aneesh KV (64) and

Lochan

Appanna rebuilt the innings with a 60-run partnership for the third wicket. In the middle order, Kishan S Bedare (31) and Kruthik Krishna (40) made some useful contributions but failed to convert their good starts. Towards the end of their innings, in a bid to accelerate the run rate, Karnataka lost some quick wickets with four batsmen back in the dressing room for the addition of 10 runs. For Assam, skipper Mrinmoy Dutta and Akash Sengupta collected three wickets apiece while Avinav Choudhury returned 2 for 37.In reply, Assam were in trouble with medium-pacer Nischith N Rao scalping opener

Subham Mandal

off the fourth ball of the innings. Karnataka bowlers kept it tight and Lochan struck off consecutive overs to send back the Deka brothers — Nihar and Nibir. Abhishek Thakuri (42 n.o) and Bishal Roy (36) kept Assam in the contest but Karnataka bowlers ensured a last-over victory.Brief scores: Karnataka: 250 all out in 49.1 overs (Aneesh KV 64 (89b, 4x4), Lochan Appanna 31, Kishan S Bedare 31, Kruthik Krishna 40; Avinav Choudhury 2-37, Mrinmoy Dutta 3-44, Akash Sengupta 3-54) bt Assam: 141/4 in 33 overs (Abhishek Thakuri 42n.o, Bishal Roy 36; Nischith N Rao 2-35, Lochan Appanna 2-11) by 6 runs as per VJD method.