Asif Iqbal
Srinagar, Feb 26 (GNS): Jammu and Kashmir tightened their grip on the Ranji Trophy Elite 2025-26 final after posting a commanding 584 in their first innings and reducing Karnataka to 220 for five at stumps on Day 3, leaving the southern side trailing by 364 runs at the KSCA Hubli Cricket Ground.
Resuming at 527 for six, J&K, as per GNS, added 57 runs in the morning session before being bowled out. Sahil Lotra extended his overnight effort to 72 off 138 balls, laced with eight boundaries, while Abid Mushtaq contributed 28 off 50 deliveries. Yudhvir Singh Charak injected late impetus with a brisk 30 from 28 balls, striking three fours and two sixes, as the visitors compiled a formidable total. For Karnataka, Prasidh Krishna returned impressive figures of 5 for 98, while Vijaykumar Vyshak, Vidyadhar Patil, Shreyas Gopal and Shikhar Shetty claimed one wicket each.
Karnataka’s reply began cautiously against a probing J&K pace attack led by Auqib Nabi Dar. The breakthrough came in the 12th over with the score at 27 when KL Rahul (13) was adjudged caught behind. J&K opted for the review and UltraEdge confirmed a clear spike as the ball passed the bat, with wicketkeeper Kanhaiya Wadhawan completing the dismissal to hand Auqib his 56th wicket of the season.
Devdutt Padikkal (11) fell at 56 for two in the 17th over, edging Sunil Kumar to first slip where Abdul Samad pouched a sharp low catch. Auqib then delivered a decisive double strike in the 18th over. With the total at 57 for three, Karun Nair was bowled for a duck by a delivery that angled in and straightened to disturb the off stump. On the very next ball, Smaran Ravichandran edged behind to Wadhawan, and after a brief check for a front-foot no-ball, the dismissal stood, leaving Karnataka reeling at 57 for four.
Under pressure, Mayank Agarwal mounted a determined response. He first shared a 105-run partnership with Shreyas Gopal to steady the innings. Gopal made 27 off 83 balls before being trapped lbw by Yudhvir Singh Charak at 162 for five in the 49th over. The decision was reviewed, but ball-tracking returned three reds, confirming the on-field call.
Agarwal, however, continued to anchor the innings with authority. He reached his century in the 47th over and went on to score 130 from 207 balls, striking 17 boundaries. He survived a testing phase late in the day, including an unsuccessful J&K review for caught behind when replays showed the ball brushing his back thigh, and an lbw appeal that was turned down with impact outside off stump. On 124, he was also dropped by Wadhawan off Abid Mushtaq.
Kruthik Krishna provided steady support and remained unbeaten on 27 off 75 balls as the pair added 58 runs for the sixth wicket, guiding Karnataka to 220 for five at the close.
Auqib, representing J&K, finished with figures of 3 for 32 in 14 overs, while Sunil Kumar and Yudhvir Singh claimed a wicket apiece.
With a substantial first-innings advantage and Karnataka still 364 runs behind, Jammu and Kashmir remain firmly in control heading into the fourth day of the summit clash, though Agarwal’s defiant century has kept the contest alive. (GNS)
