Karnataka Clinches Ranji Trophy Final Berth with Overwhelming Dominance
By lunch on the fourth day of their Ranji Trophy semi-final clash, Karnataka had effectively sealed their place in the championship final. Playing at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow, the eight-time champions treated much of the remainder of the match as extended batting practice ahead of next week's title clash against Jammu and Kashmir.
Uttarakhand's Resistance Quickly Snuffed Out
The day began with Karnataka swiftly ending Uttarakhand's resistance. Resuming at 149/5, Uttarakhand were bundled out for 233 in just 90 minutes of play. Instead of enforcing the follow-on, Karnataka chose a strategic approach, resting their bowlers and giving their batters valuable time in the middle to prepare for the final.
Karnataka's Batting Display Turns into Practice Session
By stumps on the penultimate day, Karnataka had surged to 299/6 in just 63.5 overs in their second innings, swelling their overall lead to a staggering 802 runs. The day's batting began with openers Mayank Agarwal (21) and Kruthik Krishna (52) taking the crease. Mayank fell at the stroke of lunch, edging Abhay Negi to wicketkeeper Saurabh Rawat.
The post-lunch session saw a brief wobble as Shreyas Gopal (0) and Karun Nair (8) departed in quick succession, momentarily slowing the tempo. However, Kruthik continued his impressive run, bringing up his second successive half-century. Just as he looked set for more, he misread Avneesh Sudha's googly and was trapped in front.
Rahul and Smaran Toy with Weary Attack
From there, R Smaran and KL Rahul combined to dominate an increasingly weary Uttarakhand attack. Rahul raced to 70 not out off just 67 balls, featuring three fours and five sixes. He signaled his half-century by launching a Negi delivery into the long-on stands. For now, Karnataka's focus remains clear—complete the formalities and prepare for one final push at a long-awaited ninth title.
The final is likely to be staged at the KSCA Rajnagar Stadium in Hubballi, where Karnataka will aim to add another championship to their illustrious history.
Brief Scores:- Karnataka: 736 in 194 overs (Smaran 135, Patil 54; Rawat 4-154, Mishra 3-173) & 299/6 (Smaran 127, Rahul 70*)
- Uttarakhand: 233 (Raichandani 55, Rawat 45, V Patil 3-40)
