Ranji Trophy: Karnataka take home full points

PUNE: Abhimanyu Mithun produced another hostile spell of fast bowling to bring a quick end to Maharashtra innings and give Karnataka an innings and 36-run win in the Ranji Trophy Group `A' cricket match here on Saturday.

The bustling seamer picked up three wickets in the space of 15 balls, accounting for the three key batsmen of whatever was left of the host line-up, as the visitors dismissed Maharashtra for 247 just before lunch on the fourth and final day here.

Resuming at 135 for four, 248 in arrears, Maharashtra lost both their overnight batsmen Ruturaj Gaikwad (65) and Rahul Tripathi (51) within the 11th over of the morning. Mithun accounted for both. The right-arm pacer then opened up Chirag Khurana, Maharashtra's go-to-man in the hour of crisis, with a perfect outswinger and wicketkeeper CM Gautam did the rest.

From there on, it was a matter of time before Karnataka completed the formalities.