Maharashtra's chance of securing a quarter-final berth was crushed as they were handed a 10-wicket thrashing by Karnataka on the third day of their Ranji Trophy Group B match here.
Having taken a 182-run first-innings lead, Karnataka bowled out Maharashtra for 218 in the second innings, which left them to chase just 37 runs for victory.
Karnataka openers -- R Samarth and Kaunain Abbas -- achieved the target without much fuss to secure a bonus point victory.
This was Karnataka's fifth win this season.
Earlier, resuming on 313 for nine in their first innings, Karnataka folded for 345 in reply to Maharashtra's modest first essay total of 163, thereby taking a huge lead.
Karnataka medium pacer David Mathias (3/37), originally not picked in the playing XI but drafted in late as a replacement for Manish Pandey, then picked up three crucial wickets, including that of Kedar Jadhav, who top scored with 85 off just 59 balls that included 10 fours and two sixes.
Abhimanyu Mithun, who bowled just two deliveries in the first innings before going off the field, returned to take two for 44.
Karnataka will now have to wait for the result of the Jharkhand-Odisha match on December 15 to find out if they finish Group B as the toppers.
Brief scores:
Maharashtra: 163 & 218 all out in 47.2 overs (Kedar Jadhav 85, David Mathias 3/37; Abhimanyu Mithun 2/44).
Karnataka: 345 & 39 for no loss in 10 overs.
Points - Karnataka 7, Maharashtra 0.
Disclaimer: No Business Standard Journalist was involved in creation of this content
