JOIN USGopal show propels Karnataka
The hosts, who were 381/3 overnight in reply to Baroda’s first innings’ 137 all out, were simply outstanding for the third straight day in a row, putting themselves on the verge of an innings victory at the RSI ground.
Overnight batsmen Karun Nair and Gopal, who were on 170 and 78 respectively, could not add much to their scores but their brilliant knocks was enough to power Karnataka to 441 for five declared in 132 overs.
Nair departed for 187 (251b, 21x4, 1x6) while Gopal was dismissed for a fine 90 (157b, 6x4). Trailing by 304 runs, Baroda faced a tough task in saving the match and to their dismay no one apart from Saurabh Wakaskar (84) lived upto the challenge. Familiar batting woes returned to haunt them as two late wickets left the visitors tottering at 150 for six from 66 overs. Baroda need a further 154 runs to avoid an innings defeat with only four wickets remaining. Their chief destroyer was Gopal, whose spell of 4-2-4-2 has nearly put the match in Karnataka’s favour.
Brief scores: Baroda: 137 all out 72.5 overs and 150/6 in 66 overs (Saurabh Wakaskar 84, Hardik Pandya 25; J Suchith 2-36, Shreyas Gopal 2-4) vs Karnataka (O/n: 381/3 in 110 overs): 441/5 decl in 132 overs (SS Darshan 34, Shishir Bhavane 83, Karun Nair 187, Shreyas Gopal 90; Shirag Desai 2-114, MG Rathod 2-63).