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- There's little to choose between two top teams. It's been a nip-and-tuck contest. Although Gopal and Mithun have frustrated Saurashtra, anything is possible. Join us on what should be an exciting Day Four at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. Till then, it's goodbye.
- It's stumps. Gopal and Mithun have managed to hold on. It's been Karnataka's session purely due to the ninth wicket partnership that is worth 61 now. The lead is a healthy 276.
- The partnership is worth 50 now. A nagging one, for Saurashtra, for every run added adds to the pressure of the chase.
- A loud shout for leg-before-wicket by Jadeja. It seemed to be an arm ball that hit the pad of Mithun when he had attempted a defensive stroke. Jadeja, in the middle of his appeal, pointed his left hand at the batsman, seemingly to suggest to the umpire, 'but that was adjacent'. The umpire was unmoved. Karnataka 223 for 8.
- Another bowling change — Chetan Sakariya comes in to bowl. Two singles from the over, the 71st of the innings. It's 221 for 8. The partnership is 45. The lead is 260.
- A direct hit by Jadeja, but Mithun manages to survive. Shreyas Gopal, defending a delivery from Mankad, is keen for a quick single and Mithun, at the non-strikers' end, responds. He reaches the popping crease at the other end, but plonks his bat in afterwards. A second of delay could have resulted in a run-out; as it turned out, the bails started to come off just when the bat was grounded. No damage done.
- Bowling change. Prerak Mankad is re-introduced. He bowls a wicket-to-wicket line for the most part, but doesn't ruffle the batsmen. 217 for 8.
- Gopal has his half-century, off 104 deliveries. It's been a long vigil, and in the circumstances, a very crucial knock for his side.
- The two batsmen — Shreyas Gopal and Abhimanyu Mithun — are fairly comfortable in the middle. Neither the spin-bowling of Jadeja, nor the fast bowling of Unadkat poses any trouble. Unadkat even changes his angle by bowling over the wicket, but it doesn't make a difference. Karnataka 209 for 8.
- Jadeja gets treatment on his leg by the physio.
- Mithun gently guides the ball from his legs on to leg. It races to the boundary. 200-up for Karnataka and the lead is 241.
- Mithun gets an inside-edge off a delivery from Jadeja; the bounce seems have been higher than anticipated by the batsman. Four singles off the 59th over, it's 195 for 8, lead 234.
- With the wicket of K. Gowtham in the first over after the break, Karnataka slips further into trouble. Dharmendrasinh Jadeja gets one through the batsman to have him bowled. Karnataka eight down.
- Karnataka's lead crosses the 200-run mark. It loses the wicket of Vinay Kumar, but K. Gowtham and Shreyas Gopal keep the scoreboard ticking with three wickets remaining. Karnataka leads by 212 runs.
- Another wicket goes down! Keeper-batsman S. Sharath is trapped leg before wicket by Jayadev Unadkat for 7 runs. Karnataka leads by 174 runs.
- Wriddhaayan Bhattacharyya updates from Bengaluru: BIG WICKET! Dharmendrasinh Jadeja creates a vicious angle to clean up Agarwal. The opener was looking solid with his application today. But he seems to have done the job for Karnataka building small partnerships when his side was reeling at 26/2. The 77-ball 46 (6x4) helped the host extend lead to 147 runs. An overall lead of 250 should be good enough on this wicket. Agarwal played out the intricate Jaydev Unadkat and Chetan Sakariya, built a 37-run stand for the fourth wicket with skipper Manish Pandey to rescue his side. Karnataka 108/5 (31 overs)
- Karnataka loses the wicket of Manish Pandey shortly after lunch for 26 in Devendrasinh Jadeja's bowling. Karnataka 89/4
- Wriddhaayan Bhattacharyya updates from Bengaluru: Nair is gone too. Pandey is the new man in. Mayank Agarwal looks set for a big one. He has slowly settled down. This looks set for a four-day finish.
- Updates from Bengaluru: Prerak Mankad strikes! What a cunning delivery that! He runs through Krishnamurthy Siddharth’s gate with a low and effective cutter. Siddharth departs for 8 (4x1). Karun Nair seems to be a popular figure among the crop. As he walks out to the middle, the crowd backs him. Mankad’s second delivery also keeps low, and the spectators react; supporting the local boy. Two back-to-back boundaries for Nair lights up the stands. He has quickly raced to 11 off 14 balls. It's time for drinks.
- Wriddhaayan Bhattacharyya updates from Bengaluru: Chetan Sakariya almost had Mayank Agarwal in his trap. Vasavada drops a sitter at slips. This could be the turning point of the match. He was batting on 11. Karnataka leads by 64 runs.
- Saurashtra captain Jayadev Unadkat strikes early! He sends back R. Samarth for five runs. Karnataka 10/1
- Our reporter Wriddhaayan Bhattacharyya updates from Bengaluru: Saurashtra could add only nine runs to its overnight total of 227/7. Three wickets fell in quick succession. More finishes with a six-for, Mithun picks up three as the visitor is all out for 236. Karnataka has a lead of 39 runs. The innings break is on.
- Saurashtra all out for 236, giving away a lead of 39 runs to Karnataka! Ronit More grabs his sixth wicket of the innings as he dismisses Arpit Vasavada to finish with figures of 18-1-60-6.
- Vinay Kumar on a hat-trick but we will have wait for another over for the pacer to have a chance at it. He traps Jayadev Unadkat for a duck with the final ball of the first over of Day 3. Saurashtra 230/9
- Arpit Vasavada and Devendrasinh Jadeja resume the 1st innings for Saurashtra, but Vinay Kumar strikes immediately dismissing Jadeja with the fifth ball of the day. Saurashtra trails by 45 runs. Two wickets in hand.
Kar vs Sau: More dismisses Makvana (1) and that would be a five-wicket haul for him at the end of second day's play. Saurashtra 227/7 at stumps and trail Karnataka (275) by 48 runs. Surely, Ronit More has surely turned things around for the host.
Kar vs Sau: Ronit More on a roll as he picks two in two overs. He first takes out a well-set Sheldon Jackson for 46 and then snares Prerak Mankad for a duck. Saurashtra 223/6 and trail by 52 runs.
Here are the toss updates:
At Bengaluru, Karnataka has won the toss and it will bat first.
At Wayanad, Faiz Fazal has won the toss and Vidarbha will bowl first. Not surprising at all!
Missed the action previously, not to fret, here are the previews.
It is time for the four best teams in India's domestic cricket to slug it out for the top honours. Yes, it is time for the Ranji Trophy semifinals and we have you covered with all the updates and happenings.
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