Former champions Tamil Nadu scored a 191-run victory over Maharashtra in the Ranji Trophy Elite-B league match in Chennai on Monday but still failed to make it to the semifinals.
Resuming at the overnight score of 24 without loss, Maharashtra were skittled out for 170 with off spinner R Ramkumar bagging 4 for 55.
For Maharashtra, captain Hrishikesh Kanitkar top scored with 48 (8x4).
Earlier, openers Dhiraj Jadhav (47, 6x4), and K B Shinde (17) put on 45 runs before the latter was caught by wicket keeper Dinesh Kaarthick off medium pacer Ganapathy.
For Tamil Nadu, M R Srinivas (2/39), Jesuraj (2/27) and Vidhuth (1/18) were the other wicket takers.
Tamil Nadu, who failed to progress to the semifinals after two years, took their points tally to 15, including four from this match.
Maharashtra, who had won the Plate Division last year to enter the Elite Group will be relegated as they finished second from last with five points. Only Assam, who failed to lodge a single point to their tally, did worse.
Brief scores: Tamil Nadu 277 and 259 v/s Maharashtra 175 and 170 (Kanitkar 48, Dhiraj Jadhav 47, Ramkumar 4/55).