Karnataka on the verge of victory

Manjunath Hadimani | NT

Karnataka leg-spinner Shreyas Gopal’s three wickets extended further hold for Karnataka as they keep J&K to 189 for four wickets in the second innings on the third day of the Ranji Trophy Elite Group C match in Chennai on Saturday.

Skipper Ian Dev Singh Chauhan 65* (113b, 4*8, 6*2) and Abdul Samad 21*(29b, 4*1, 6*2) are at the crease battling out for J&K needing a further 319 runs which looks far too ahead of a task.

Chasing a humongous target of 508 runs, J&K started the proceedings on an ominous note as Namma Prasidh picked a wicket in his first over to send Qamran Iqbal back for 4. Shreyas Gopal then spun his web to grab Jatin Wadhwan (15) and Shubham Singh Pundir (9). Looked as if the first innings just passed through before Fazil Rashid (65) and Ian Singh fought back with a 79-run stand for the fourth wicket.

After Rashid, the skipper stood firm to add an unbeaten 63 runs with Sunrisers Hyderabad star Abdul Samad to ensure no further setbacks for the team.

Resuming on 128 for 2, Karun Nair backed his first innings performance to remain unbeaten on 71* (114b, 4*6, 6*1) adding a rapid 113 runs from 137 balls with Siddharth 72 (72b, 4*8, 6*1). Siddarth was an aggressor scoring a run-a-ball before being stumped off Abid Mushtaq. Manish Pandey 37 (34b, 4*4, 6*1) added some quick runs and a fiery partnership of 60 runs in 51 balls with Karun before they decided to declare the innings at 298 for 3 wickets in 71 overs.

Abid Mushtaq was a lone warrior for J&K picking all 3 wickets in the second innings.

With 6 wickets left on the final day, it’s highly unlikely that J&K would score 318 runs. But cricket is a game of uncertainties, you know? On the other hand, Karnataka may in all likelihood pull off a victory and pocket allimportant six points.

Brief scores: Day 3: Karnataka 302 all out in 103.1 overs & 298/3 declared in 71 overs (K V Siddharth 72 (72b, 4*8, 6*1), Karun Nair 71* (114b, 4*6, 6*1), Abid Mushtaq 3/65) vs Jammu and Kashmir 93 all out in 29.5 overs & 189/4 in 57.5 overs (Fazil Rashid 65 (140b, 4*8, 6*2), Ian Dev Singh Chauhan 65 batting (114b, 4*8, 6*2), Shreyas Gopal 3/90).