Proceedings at the Ekana Cricket Stadium on Tuesday were as slow as pouring honey, but Karnataka will remain confident that it will eventually get to taste that nectar.
At stumps on day three of the Ranji Trophy semifinal here, Uttarakhand, in response to Karnataka’s humungous 736 — the southern State’s third-highest First Class total in history — had reached 149 for five.
In the morning, Karnataka added just 47 runs to its overnight score, with an error in judgement resulting in centurion R. Smaran being stumped (135, 216b, 12×4) off Mayank Mishra.
Karnataka’s R. Smaran is stumped by Saurabh Rawat off Mayank Mishra.
| Photo Credit:
R.V. MOORTHY
In response, Kunal Chandela & Co. had the option of being positive on a good batting wicket or buckle down and delay Karnataka’s seemingly inevitable victory charge.
And they chose the latter, digging in for 69 overs, with No. 4 Lakshya Raichandani, a 17-year-old playing his maiden First Class season, remaining unbeaten on 52 (166b, 10×4).
Karnataka also bowled well, with pacer Vidyadhar Patil, who is developing a knack for bowing tight lines, coming up with an excellent first spell on either side of lunch (9-3-15-2).
The seasoned Prashant Chopra shuffled too far across and was trapped in front while Bhupen Lalwani was caught down the leg-side.
V. Vyshak got the just reward for keeping it wicket to wicket, disturbing Avneesh Sudha’s off-stump with a delivery that moved a tad after pitching.
The prized scalp of Chandela — Uttarakhand’s top-scorer this campaign with 709 runs before this fixture — was Shreyas Gopal’s, with the leggie foxing the right-hander and having him edge to K.L. Rahul at first slip.
Former Karnataka spinner J. Suchith, who missed Monday’s play owing to the birth of his first child, had his on-field joy curtailed when Prasidh Krishna uprooted his off-stump.
If Smaran at silly-point and Rahul at slip had not grassed tough chances off Raichandani and Saurabh Rawat (10 batting, 37b, 2×4), respectively, Karnataka’s hold would have been firmer. Even then, there is little possibility of Uttarakhand getting away.
The scores: Karnataka — 1st innings: K.L. Rahul c & b Aditya 141, Mayank Agarwal c Prashant b Aditya 5, Devdutt Padikkal c Saurabh b Raichandani 232, Karun Nair c Saurabh b Abhay 60, R. Smaran st. Saurabh b Mayank 135, Shreyas Gopal b Aditya 0, Kruthik Krishna b Avneesh 60, Vidyadhar Patil c Saurabh b Aditya 54, V. Vyshak c Raichandani b Mayank 0, Shikhar Shetty b Mayank 12, Prasidh Krishna (not out) 1; Extras (b-11, lb-6, nb-6, w-8, penalty-5): 36; Total (in 194.4 overs): 736.
Fall of wickets: 1-18, 2-296, 3-425, 4-484, 5-485, 6-608, 7-717, 8-717, 9-734.
Uttarakhand bowling: Abhay 34-5-118-1, Janmejay 29-5-94-0, Aditya 34.4-3-154-4, Mayank 42-3-173-3, Suchith 10-0-43-0, Avneesh 35-2-107-1, Raichandani 10-1-25-1.
Uttarakhand — 1st innings: Bhupen Lalwani c Kruthik b Vidyadhar 15, Prashant Chopra lbw b Vidyadhar 5, Avneesh Sudha b Vyshak 27, Lakshya Raichandani (batting) 52, Kunal Chandela c Rahul b Shreyas 12, J. Suchith b Prasidh 21, Saurabh Rawat (batting) 10; Extras (lb-4, nb-1, w-2): 7; Total (for five wkts. in 69 overs): 149.
Fall of wickets: 1-5, 2-37, 3-61, 4-81, 5-124.
Karnataka bowling: Vidyadhar 13-3-26-2, Prasidh 15-2-42-1, Vyshak 13-2-30-1, Shikhar 18-9-24-0, Shreyas 10-3-23-1.
Published – February 17, 2026 07:04 pm IST
