Wrist in the tale

UP’s Karan Sharma on the final day of the Ranji Trophy match against Mumbai at Wankhede Stadium on Monday. Pic/Satej Shinde

After Sunday's stunner at the Adelaide Oval, where West Indies beat Australia to square the two-match Sir Frank Worrell Trophy series, the thriller bug travelled to Mumbai where the host team were pipped by Uttar Pradesh in their Elite Group B Ranji Trophy game at Wankhede Stadium on Monday.

UP's two-wicket win caused the 41-time champions' first Ranji loss of the season after outright wins over Bihar, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala.

In pursuit of a victory target of 195, UP opener Aryan Juyal (76, 10x4, 1x6) and No.4 Karan Sharma (67 not out, 5x4, 2x6), who played with a wrist injury on his left hand, gave UP their first outright win of the season.

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Mumbai pacers Royston Dias (1-22) and Mohit Avasthi (1-20) began well, sending back opener Samarth Singh (2) and one-drop Priyam Garg (4) by the fifth over. However, Juyal and Karan frustrated Mumbai by stitching together a 104-run partnership.

Kotian claims five

Off-spinner Tanush Kotian (5-58), who was introduced as a sixth bowling option just before the lunch, gave the hosts some hope by trapping a well-set Juyal leg before. In his next over, Kotian had UP captain and first innings centurion Nitish Rana (6) caught at first slip by Jay Bista.

UP found themselves in big trouble when Karan decided to retire due a painful wrist on 47 when his team's score was 145-4. However, he returned after a 21-minute break when UP lost their seventh batsman in the form of Bhuvneshwar Kumar (5).

Right-handed batsman Karan, who managed just 95 runs in his last 12 innings, not only scored a half-century, but remained unbeaten till his partner Aaqib Khan (3 not out) scored the winning run.

"Nitish bhai said I have to bat. When one wicket fell, he asked me if I could bat. I told him I was experiencing extreme pain. I took a painkilling injection but then, one more wicket fell. So I said I'll go. Around 10 minutes later, we went in for tea and I could rest. It was just about batting for those 10 minutes [to finish the game]," Karan told reporters on Monday.

Tense time for UP

UP lost three wickets and still needed 41 runs to win when Karan was in the dressing room.

He went out and smashed a couple of sixes off Kotian despite his aching wrist. "I could barely play. I was only able to defend then because if the top hand is not moving how will the bottom hand come into play? I couldn't grip the bat properly. So I thought I'll keep defending, Aksh [Akshdeep Nath] said we'll score the runs somehow. I thought I'd play the anchor [role] and rely on my defence When Aksh got out [for 28] I mustered up courage and told myself I have to do it somehow. I held the bat very tight. I had to take that chance. Luckily there was an off-spinner [Kotian] bowling and I thought I'll swing no matter what," Karan explained."

Meanwhile, Mumbai skipper Ajinkya Rahane said: "You hardly get to see such games in the Ranji Trophy. Credit to both teams for playing in the right spirit. I am very proud of my boys, especially being behind the game from Day One and fighting back with just two wickets away from winning the game. I'm really happy with the way everyone played."

Brief scores
Mumbai 198 and 320 (S Dube 117, S Mulani 63 M Avasthi 49; A Khan 4-63) lost to UP 324 and 195-8 in 69.5 overs (A Juyal 76, K Sharma 67'; T Kotian 5-58) by 2 wickets