<p>Riding on unbeaten centuries from K L Rahul and Karun Nair, defending champions Karnataka took firm control by finishing day two on a comfortable 323 for five in the Ranji Trophy cricket final here today.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Karnataka have already secured a 189-run lead over their opponents with five wickets still remaining here at the Wankhede stadium.<br /><br />Rahul (131) and Nair (130) were unconquered at the end of day's play, which saw them overhaul Tamil Nadu's first innings paltry total of 134.<br /><br />Resuming at an overnight score of 45 for four, title the holders lost night watchman Abhimanyu Mithun (39) early to be reeling at 84 for five.<br /><br />Mithun was trapped leg before by off-spinner Malolan Rangarajan in the 11th over of the day, adding just 25 runs to his yesterday's score of 14.<br /><br />The 25-year-old hit 16 off the second over of the day, hitting Laxmipathy Balaji for three boundaries.<br /><br />Mithun's overnight partner, Karun Nair, having resumed at nine, carried on to notch up his first century of the season.<br /><br />He added 239 runs with Rahul for an unbeaten partnership for the sixth wicket.<br />The Indian Test player Rahul hit 13 fours and a six to bring up his century. Rahul, who had retired hurt yesterday due to a hamstring pull after scoring one, batted patiently with Nair to equalise Tamil Nadu's first innings score of 134 at lunch.<br /><br />The 22-year-old Rahul looked slightly uncomfortable running between the wickets but compensated it with his sensible batting.<br /><br />Nair, who came in to bat yesterday at number six, was slower than Rahul in bringing his century. He took 248 balls to reach the three-digit mark compared to Rahul's 170. He struck 19 fours in his knock.<br /><br />The Karnataka batsmen applied themselves to restrict Tamil Nadu from picking any further wickets.<br /><br />After the fall of 14 wickets yesterday, just one batsman was dismissed today. It wasn't a bad day at the office for the Tamil Nadu bowlers.</p>
<p>Riding on unbeaten centuries from K L Rahul and Karun Nair, defending champions Karnataka took firm control by finishing day two on a comfortable 323 for five in the Ranji Trophy cricket final here today.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Karnataka have already secured a 189-run lead over their opponents with five wickets still remaining here at the Wankhede stadium.<br /><br />Rahul (131) and Nair (130) were unconquered at the end of day's play, which saw them overhaul Tamil Nadu's first innings paltry total of 134.<br /><br />Resuming at an overnight score of 45 for four, title the holders lost night watchman Abhimanyu Mithun (39) early to be reeling at 84 for five.<br /><br />Mithun was trapped leg before by off-spinner Malolan Rangarajan in the 11th over of the day, adding just 25 runs to his yesterday's score of 14.<br /><br />The 25-year-old hit 16 off the second over of the day, hitting Laxmipathy Balaji for three boundaries.<br /><br />Mithun's overnight partner, Karun Nair, having resumed at nine, carried on to notch up his first century of the season.<br /><br />He added 239 runs with Rahul for an unbeaten partnership for the sixth wicket.<br />The Indian Test player Rahul hit 13 fours and a six to bring up his century. Rahul, who had retired hurt yesterday due to a hamstring pull after scoring one, batted patiently with Nair to equalise Tamil Nadu's first innings score of 134 at lunch.<br /><br />The 22-year-old Rahul looked slightly uncomfortable running between the wickets but compensated it with his sensible batting.<br /><br />Nair, who came in to bat yesterday at number six, was slower than Rahul in bringing his century. He took 248 balls to reach the three-digit mark compared to Rahul's 170. He struck 19 fours in his knock.<br /><br />The Karnataka batsmen applied themselves to restrict Tamil Nadu from picking any further wickets.<br /><br />After the fall of 14 wickets yesterday, just one batsman was dismissed today. It wasn't a bad day at the office for the Tamil Nadu bowlers.</p>