Bengaluru: It had been more than a year since Karnataka and Saurashtra last met in the Ranji Trophy in Rajkot last October, but it was pretty much the same script this time in Alur.
Just like last season, when Saurashtra’s gritty tail picked up a four-run first-innings lead, the lower order once again proved to be a thorn in Karnataka’s flesh on the third day, producing a dogged batting effort to post 349 all out in 108.3 overs from 303/8 in 98.2 overs and take a slender seven-run first-innings lead in reply to Karnataka’s 342.
However, the hosts had themselves to blame for their misery on an error-filled day in the field, dropping two catches and missing a run-out chance.
Karnataka, hoping to push for an outright victory after managing just one point from their opener, reached 99/2 in 26 overs in their second innings, leading Saurashtra by 92 runs at stumps.
KV Aneesh (37 not out, 60b), fresh off a confidence-boosting half-century in the first innings, and Karun Nair (19 not out, 46b) were at the crease, having stitched together an unbeaten 43-run partnership off 75 balls.
Parth Bhut (1/31) and Ankur Panwar (1/23) picked up one wicket apiece, dismissing debutants Aneeshwar Gautam (3) and Rohan Patil (38), respectively.
Opening the innings, Rohan showed some aggression during his fluent 37-ball stay but was caught at short mid-wicket after top-edging the ball to Prerak Mankad. He had also been given a reprieve on 14 when Sammar Gajjar dropped him at slip off Chetan Sakariya (0/21).
Aneeshwar, meanwhile, was caught at slip by Mankad while attempting to cut Parth. Mayank Agarwal, however, did not open the innings after suffering a finger injury while fielding.
Earlier in the day, Saurashtra, resuming at their overnight score of 164/4, lost Mankad (20) when he edged Vyshak Vijaykumar (2/84) to wicketkeeper Shrijith KL while attempting a drive without moving his feet.
As Vyshak and Abhilash Shetty (2/63) bowled rhythmic spells and managed to get the ball to reverse slightly, Arpit Vasavada (65 off 177 balls) held his ground.
After Mankad’s dismissal, the visitors needed a solid partnership to get out of trouble. Arpit and Sammar Gajjar (79 off 121 balls) delivered just that.
Vasavada reached his 36th first-class half-century with a single to mid-off off his 126th ball as his partnership with Gajjar grew. With a few deliveries keeping a little low, Karnataka tried Karun Nair (0/19) without success.
However, skipper Shreyas Gopal (1/55) and Karnataka suffered a scare in the 78th over when the leg-spinner called for the physio after being hit on his left hand in his follow-through as Gajjar hit the ball straight back at him, resulting in a dropped chance.
Gajjar was then given a lifeline on 33, with Saurashtra at 233/5, when substitute Nikin Jose dropped him at slip.
Karnataka took the new ball in the 82nd over (81.3), but their fortunes remained unchanged as Saurashtra continued to frustrate the hosts.
Gajjar brought up his second first-class half-century off 82 balls when he guided Vyshak’s short delivery to the third-man boundary, as the partnership grew into a 124-run stand.
Karnataka would rue their fielding efforts, with substitute Shikhar Shetty missing a simple run-out opportunity from inside the circle as Gajjar ran towards the danger end.
With Karnataka’s lead reduced to just 44 runs, Vidwath Kaverappa’s (4/57) brilliance gave them a glimmer of hope.
The pacer, after suffering cramps the previous evening, dismissed the well-set Gajjar and the resolute Vasavada in the same over.
He then removed Chetan Sakariya (1), thanks to Shrijith’s brilliance behind the stumps, as Saurashtra lost three wickets for five runs.
That was when Jaydev Unadkat (11) and Bhut put together a gritty 40-run ninth-wicket stand off 52 deliveries to take Saurashtra past Karnataka’s total. There was some drama when Parth was run out while celebrating the first-innings lead. Unadkat was the last batter to fall, trapped lbw by skipper Shreyas in the 109th over.
SCOREBOARD
KARNATAKA (1st innings): 342 all out
SAURASHTRA (1st innings, overnight: 164/4): Hetvik Kotak c Aneeshwar b Vyshak 46 (127b, 5×4), Harvik Desai c Shrijith b Vidwath 77 (78b, 11×4, 1×6), Chirag Jani b Abhilash 1 (11b), Jay Gohil c Manvanth b Abhilash 0 (7b), Arpit Vasavada b Vidwath 65 (177b, 3×4), Prerak Mankad c Shrijith b Vyshak 20 (59b, 3×4), Sammar Gajjar lbw Vidwath 79 (121b, 4×12), Chetan Sakariya c Shrijith b Vidwath 1 (6b), Jaydev Unadkat lbw Shreyas 11 (25b), Ankur Panwar not out 6 (5b). Extras (NB-2, WD-4, LB-5, B-4): 15. TOTAL: 349 all out in 108.3 overs.
Fall of wickets: 1-110, 2-113, 3-115, 4-128, 5-173, 6-298, 7-301, 8-303, 9-343.
Bowling: Vidwath Kaverappa 20.1-57-4, Vyshak Vijaykumar 22-3-84-2, Abhilash Shetty 25.7-3-63-2, Manvanth Kumar 16-1-57-0, Shreyas Gopal 19.3-2-55-1, Karun Nair 4-0-19-0, Aneeshwar Gautam 1-0-5-0.
KARNATAKA (2nd innings): KV Aneesh batting 37 (60b, 5×4), Rohan Patil c Sakariya b Panwar 38 (37b, 7×4), Aneeshwar Gautam c Mankad b Bhut 3 (13b), Karun Nair batting 19 (46b, 2×4). Extras (LB-2): 2. TOTAL: 99/2 in 26 overs.
Fall of wickets: 1-45, 2-56.
Bowling: Chetan Sakariya 4-0-21-0, Parth Bhut 11-1-31-1, Ankur Panwar 4-0-23-1, Chirag Jani 3-0-12-0, Prerak Mankad 2-0-8-0, Sammar Gajjar 2-0-2-0.