Karnataka Dominates as Uttarakhand Fights to Stay Alive in Ranji Semis
Karnataka Dominates as Uttarakhand Fights to Stay Alive in Ranji Semis
Karnataka piled up 736 and Uttarakhand stood at 149-5 at stumps on day three, with 17-year-old Lakshya Raichandani fighting to keep the chase alive.
The Ekana Cricket Stadium hosted a day three affair that moved with the measured tempo of honey, as Karnataka kept its dominance in the Ranji Trophy semifinal. The southern state had already set a brutal stage with 736, its third-highest First Class total, and by stumps Uttarakhand were 149 for five, leaving Karnataka well placed to press for the win.
Morning play added just 47 runs to Karnataka’s overnight total, with a key moment seeing centurion R. Smaran stumped off Mayank Mishra for what looked like a high-impact score of 135 from 216 balls, inclusive of 12 fours. In response, Uttarakhand’s effort to convert patience into progress began with a careful 69-over spell that culminated in a stubborn stand from Lakshya Raichandani. The 17-year-old, playing his maiden First Class season, remained unbeaten on 52 off 166 balls, shoring up a pair of partnerships as Uttarakhand refused to surrender without a fight.
Kunal Chandela, Uttarakhand’s most prolific scorer this campaign with 709 runs prior to this fixture, fell to a sharp piece of bowling by Shreyas Gopal, edged to Rahul at first slip. Karnataka’s bowling unit also claimed Prashant Chopra, who shuffled too far across and was trapped in front, while Bhupen Lalwani was snaffled down the leg-side. Vyshak gave Karnataka the breakthrough they sought just before lunch, prising Avneesh Sudha’s off-stump from a seam that moved a touch after pitching, a reminder of the discipline Karnataka has shown on a slow, wicket-friendly track.
The visitors also drew a line through a familiar name with J. Suchith, who had missed Monday’s play due to the birth of his first child, watching from the boundary as Prasidh Krishna uprooted his off-stump. If Smaran and Rahul had not grassed some chances at key moments in the field, the momentum might have swung differently, but Karnataka’s control on the day was evident, and Uttarakhand’s resilience in the face of a large deficit offered a glimmer of hope for the final day.
With the day’s play in the books, Karnataka will be keen to press home the advantage as the Ranji Trophy semifinal edges toward a conclusion, while Uttarakhand will look to Raichandani to steer a stubborn rear-guard action into a potentially decisive fourth day.
