Ranji tourney at an exciting stage!

The battle for semifinal spots is really heating up in the Ranji Trophy. After a long while, it finally looks like the BCCI's dedcision to split the tourney into two levels is actually bearing fruit. I say this in the context of the number of close matches and the spirited resistance beng put up by unfancied teams against stiff opposition - features that were rare in Ranji preliminary round matches until recently. Here's the status quo:
In the Elite groups, Baroda and Mumbai have already qualified for the semis. But its in the struggle for the second semifinal spots from each group that the really interesting contests are taking place. In group 'A', Karnataka , at present, lie second behind Mumbai at 12 points [ after two victories against Delhi and Maharashtra]. Although the next closest teams, TN and Bengal, are at 9 points, Karnataka daare not rest easy. If either win their matches, they'll leap frog K'taka and waltz into the semis.
At the time of 'going to press',as it were, K'taka had conceded a first-innings lead to Gujarat [ so no extra points there for K'taka] , Railways continued to defy Bengal with their slow batting and TN [oh nooooooo!] had amassed 450+ against Delhi and appeared all set for a thumping win. If Delhi can somehow manage to thwart TN, then K'taka are through. Although , going by past form, Delhi will, I'm guessing, succumb to TN. aaargh...and there goes the semifinal spot.

In group B, Punjab are in a position similar to K'taka's with UP and Hyd. looking good to overtake or at least draw level with them. [ Although Hyd. have conceded a first-innings lead to Baroda, the match is still open] If so, UP look set to draw level with Punjab. I wonder waht the BCCI's rules are , in such situations. Do they go with the result of the encounter between the tied teams, then take into account the number of victories,etc.? Need to find out....

This is the good part of the new two-tier championship - weaker teams like Tripura and Goa will now no longer be thrashed absent-mindedly by Bengal, K'taka,et al but instead can compete with teams at their own level and win. This worked,too - in that Tripura registered their first-ever win , in 21 years of competition, against Himachal Pradesh., whom they would never have played in the old zonal system.

All said and done, in spite of the lack of crowds and overall lack of interest, such fierce competition can only bear good tidings for Indian cricket's future.