Padikkal’s maiden ton puts K’taka on top

Manjunath Hadimani | NT

Devdutt Padikkal slammed his maiden first-class hundred, an unbeaten 161, as Karnataka ended day one of the Ranji Trophy Elite Group C match against Pondicherry in Chennai at 293 for 3.

Devdutt, who was yet to prove his mark in the Ranji arena, showed his class by remaining unbeaten at the end of the day with his captain Manish Pandey (22r, 33b, 6*1) on the other side of the crease.

Sent in to bat, Karnataka made one change to their squad as Vidwath Kaverappa makes his debut in place of Ronit More.

Namma team started on a cautious note assessing the conditions, scoring only 28 runs in 14.5 overs. In a matter of time, they were put in a spot of bother losing the in-form Samarth and hero of the last match Karun Nair for 39 runs. 

Padikkal was then joined by KV Siddarth (85r, 168b, 4*11). The southpaw, who was a touch shady in the earlier matches gave himself the much-needed time in the middle to mend the Karnataka innings with Siddarth adding 223 for the third wicket. Siddarth was dismissed in the last hour caught by Paras Dogra off Udeshi.

Pondicherry’s Ashith troubled Karnataka batters early in the innings picking up two wickets for 37runs.

Brief scores: Karnataka 293 for three in 90 overs (Devdutt Padikkal 161 batting (277b, 20x4, 2x6), K V Siddharth 85 (168b, 11x4), Manish Pandey 21 batting, Ashith Rajiv two for 37) vs Pondicherry.