<div>Karnataka suffered another batting collapse against Odisha on Wednesday and face an uphill task of saving the Ranji Trophy Group B contest at the Palam Ground.<br /><br />The table-toppers, who are yet to face defeat this season and on a four match-winning streak, were left high and dry at 244/6 in the second innings on the third day of the contest. Wicket-keeper CM Gautam (68 n.o.) with another fine innings and Shreyas Gopal (11) were holding the ship at stumps with Karnataka possessing a slim lead of 81 runs.<br /><br />The eight-time champions were 133/5 at one stage and would have found themselves in choppier waters had it not been for the steady 98-run fifth-wicket stand between skipper R Vinay Kumar (41) and Gautam. Vinay, however, departed just five overs before the close of day’s play. <br /><br />In all three days of the contest, Odisha have made life difficult for the table-toppers. They took the first-innings lead on Tuesday. Their last wicket pairing of Basant Mohanty (40) and Alok Mangaraj hung around for 29 minutes in the morning. They added 24 more runs and boosted Odisha’s total to 342. Ronit More bowled Mohanty to signal the start of Karnataka’s second innings.<br /><br />With a stout first innings lead of 163 hovering over, Karnataka showed uncharacteristic impatience. On a pitch that was steadily getting slow, Karnataka’s batsmen were guilty of rushing for stokes. By lunch, the top three batsmen were back in the dressing room, beginning with Mayank Agarwal who failed to cross midwicket off Mohanty in the sixth over. <br /><br />R Samarth played with gumption and Robin Uthappa with characteristic verve to add 58 for the second wicket. But the breezy run-a-ball-stay of Uthappa was cut short by left-arm spinner Dhiraj Singh (3-54) who trapped him leg-before, the ball staying a tad low. Two overs later, Kaunain Abbas perished, and Karnataka took lunch at 102/3.<br /><br />Things didn’t turn for better on resumption for Karnataka. Two overs into the second session, Samarth’s stroke-filled knock hit an abrupt end. He holed out at the cover, one run short of a half-century, to become Dhiraj’s third victim. Stuart Binny played with aggression before edging Govinda Poddar to the second slips.<br /><br />With Karnataka at dire straits, Vinay stepped in to stem the rot with Gautam. The combine of captain and vice-captain played with the intent required on the surface to avoid further casualties.<br /><br />The sedate innings of Gautam reached the halfway mark in the final session. It was an innings strung on the merit of the ball and situation. There was no rush or flashy strokes on offer. On the worn out track, he focused on timing and squeezing out the gaps. Vinay provided just the support that was needed. Their presence lent calmness in the chaotic afternoon for Karnataka.<br /><br />But Biplab Samantray returned to separate the two. Vinay was beaten by bounce to edge to Pattnaik at gully, and Odisha got the breakthrough they desired the most.<br /><br />Ahead of the fourth and last day, the remaining Karnataka batsmen would have to play out of their skin to keep their reputation intact. For now, it is advantage Odisha.<br /><br />One umpire on duty<br /><br />The England umpire David Milns couldn’t take to the field on Wednesday due to fever. In his absence, Tapan Sharma had to single-handedly look after the umpiring duties for 7.1 overs, that included six overs of Odisha innings and one of Karnataka. Milns, who was later replaced by Dharmesh Bharadwaj, is expected to resume duties on Thursday.<br /></div>
<div>Karnataka suffered another batting collapse against Odisha on Wednesday and face an uphill task of saving the Ranji Trophy Group B contest at the Palam Ground.<br /><br />The table-toppers, who are yet to face defeat this season and on a four match-winning streak, were left high and dry at 244/6 in the second innings on the third day of the contest. Wicket-keeper CM Gautam (68 n.o.) with another fine innings and Shreyas Gopal (11) were holding the ship at stumps with Karnataka possessing a slim lead of 81 runs.<br /><br />The eight-time champions were 133/5 at one stage and would have found themselves in choppier waters had it not been for the steady 98-run fifth-wicket stand between skipper R Vinay Kumar (41) and Gautam. Vinay, however, departed just five overs before the close of day’s play. <br /><br />In all three days of the contest, Odisha have made life difficult for the table-toppers. They took the first-innings lead on Tuesday. Their last wicket pairing of Basant Mohanty (40) and Alok Mangaraj hung around for 29 minutes in the morning. They added 24 more runs and boosted Odisha’s total to 342. Ronit More bowled Mohanty to signal the start of Karnataka’s second innings.<br /><br />With a stout first innings lead of 163 hovering over, Karnataka showed uncharacteristic impatience. On a pitch that was steadily getting slow, Karnataka’s batsmen were guilty of rushing for stokes. By lunch, the top three batsmen were back in the dressing room, beginning with Mayank Agarwal who failed to cross midwicket off Mohanty in the sixth over. <br /><br />R Samarth played with gumption and Robin Uthappa with characteristic verve to add 58 for the second wicket. But the breezy run-a-ball-stay of Uthappa was cut short by left-arm spinner Dhiraj Singh (3-54) who trapped him leg-before, the ball staying a tad low. Two overs later, Kaunain Abbas perished, and Karnataka took lunch at 102/3.<br /><br />Things didn’t turn for better on resumption for Karnataka. Two overs into the second session, Samarth’s stroke-filled knock hit an abrupt end. He holed out at the cover, one run short of a half-century, to become Dhiraj’s third victim. Stuart Binny played with aggression before edging Govinda Poddar to the second slips.<br /><br />With Karnataka at dire straits, Vinay stepped in to stem the rot with Gautam. The combine of captain and vice-captain played with the intent required on the surface to avoid further casualties.<br /><br />The sedate innings of Gautam reached the halfway mark in the final session. It was an innings strung on the merit of the ball and situation. There was no rush or flashy strokes on offer. On the worn out track, he focused on timing and squeezing out the gaps. Vinay provided just the support that was needed. Their presence lent calmness in the chaotic afternoon for Karnataka.<br /><br />But Biplab Samantray returned to separate the two. Vinay was beaten by bounce to edge to Pattnaik at gully, and Odisha got the breakthrough they desired the most.<br /><br />Ahead of the fourth and last day, the remaining Karnataka batsmen would have to play out of their skin to keep their reputation intact. For now, it is advantage Odisha.<br /><br />One umpire on duty<br /><br />The England umpire David Milns couldn’t take to the field on Wednesday due to fever. In his absence, Tapan Sharma had to single-handedly look after the umpiring duties for 7.1 overs, that included six overs of Odisha innings and one of Karnataka. Milns, who was later replaced by Dharmesh Bharadwaj, is expected to resume duties on Thursday.<br /></div>
