NEW DELHI: Skipper Harvik Desai led from the front with an unbeaten century as Saurashtra stunned fancied Uttar Pradesh by 17 runs via the VJD Method in a rain hit contest to book their place in the Vijay Hazare Trophy semifinals on Monday.

Despite missing in form wicketkeeper batter Dhruv Jurel, who joined the Indian squad following Rishabh Pant’s injury, Uttar Pradesh did well to post a competitive 310 for eight after being asked to bat first.

In response, Saurashtra were cruising at 238 for three in 40.1 overs when rain brought play to a halt, and they were later declared winners after the V Jayadevan method came into effect.

Saurashtra needed 77 runs from the final 10 overs, a manageable target with their skipper well set at the crease. Desai was unbeaten on exactly 100 from 116 balls when play was stopped, having already stitched a crucial second wicket partnership of 133 runs with Prerak Mankad, who scored 67 off 66 deliveries.

Desai then found solid support in Chirag Jani, who made an unbeaten 40 off 31 balls. The pair added 76 runs for the fourth wicket and ensured Saurashtra stayed ahead of the equation.

During his knock, Desai struck eight boundaries and two sixes as Saurashtra edged past Uttar Pradesh, who had topped Group B after winning all their league matches. Saurashtra, meanwhile, finished second in Group D after winning five of their seven games.

The absence of Jurel, who had piled up 558 runs in seven innings during the league stage, proved costly for Uttar Pradesh. However, opener Abhishek Goswami and Sameer Rizvi put up a strong fight with fluent knocks of 88 off 82 balls and 77 respectively at the BCCI Centre of Excellence Ground 2.

Goswami hit 12 fours during his stay, while Rizvi entertained with 10 boundaries and two sixes.

Rizvi was involved in a 50 run stand with Prashant Veer, who scored 30 off 31 balls, and added 45 runs with Goswami after skipper Rinku Singh managed just 13 off 20 deliveries.

Priyam Garg contributed 35 off 39 balls in the middle order and shared a 57 run partnership for the third wicket with Goswami after Uttar Pradesh lost two early wickets with only 42 runs on the board in the ninth over.

Lower down the order, leg spinner Zeeshan Ansari chipped in with a useful 20 off 11 balls as Rizvi later pushed the total past the 300 run mark.

Uttar Pradesh’s start was far from ideal as Aryan Juyal was dismissed for a duck with just 10 runs on the board. Rituraj Sharma too failed to make a meaningful contribution as Saurashtra struck early.

However, Goswami and Rizvi steadied the innings and led the recovery.

Left arm seamer Chetan Sakariya was the pick of the bowlers for Saurashtra, returning figures of 3 for 54, while Ankur Panwar and Prerak Mankad picked up two wickets each. Ankur, though, proved expensive, conceding 75 runs in his full quota of 10 overs.

(With PTI Inputs)