Nischal ton spurs Karnataka

KV Siddharth

Karnataka produced an authoritative batting performance to push Railways to the wall on the third and penultimate day of their Group ‘A’ Ranji Trophy game here at the KSCA Navule Stadium on Monday.

Resuming from 41 for no loss, and already ahead of their opponents by 112 runs, Karnataka scored 290/2 before deciding to declare. D Nischal (101, 232b, 7x4) extended his fine form to score his second ton of the season. Karnataka’s total was further boosted by half-centuries from Devdutt Padikkal (75b, 5x4, 1x6) and K V Siddharth (84 n.o., 86b, 6x4, 3x6). Eyeing an outright win, the hosts scored at 3.45 runs per over to set a daunting target of 362.

In response, Railways were 44/1 at stumps. The visitors lost opener Prashant Gupta in the second over.

But Saurabh Wakaskar (20 batting) and Nitin Bhille (16 batting) survived a testing period of 14 overs.

For Karnataka, the first hour on the final day will be crucial. The surface has been helpful for the seamers during the morning on all three days and the hosts will be looking to take maximum wickets in the session. Nischal stuck to his natural game and essayed a patient knock while Padikkal, who was a little cautious early on, came into his groove after he settled down. The opening stand of 150 runs was just what the doctor ordered for Karnataka.

After Padikkal’s departure, K V Siddharth and Nischal forged an alliance of 94 runs. Siddharth found the going tough in the first six overs he faced but once he got his eye in, the right-hander essayed an entertaining knock. His attacking approach helped Karnataka push the lead past 300 in quick time.

Mishra powers Delhi

Meanwhile, left-arm spinner Vikas Mishra again tormented the Madhya Pradesh batsmen with a six-wicket haul as Delhi thumped the visitors by nine wickets for their first victory of the season in New Delhi.

The 25-year-old Mishra, who had taken six wickets in the first innings as well, finished with career-best match figures of 12 for 71 to help Delhi bundle out Madhya Pradesh for just 157 in 64.3 overs on the third day of their Elite Group B fixture.

The hosts needed to score just 29 runs without losing wicket to claim the win with a bonus point but lost opener Kunal Chandela (6) two runs short of the target to settle for six points.