Karnataka’s Karun Nair slammed a century but Andhra managed to draw their four-day Ranji Trophy Elite Group B match at the Dr Gokaraju Liala Gangaraju ACA cricket ground in Mulapadu, Vijayawada, on Wednesday. Andhra, who had taken a 144-run first innings lead, took three points from the game, while Karnataka had to be content with a point.
The last day’s play belonged to former India player Karun Nair, who went on to make 155 off 242 balls with 16 fours and two sixes. His century helped Karnataka declare their innings closed at 337 for nine.
Andhra were set a target of 194 to win the game outright but they faltered. The hosts lost Hemanth Reddy (0) in the second over itself with just four on the board as he was trapped leg before by Shikhar Shetty.
Shaik Rasheed (7) too did not last long and was caught behind by KL Shrijith off Shetty to leave Andhra at 18 for two.
Opener Abhishek Reddy and skipper Ricky Bhui (12) tried to stem the rot but Bhui suffered his second failure of the match. The right-handed bat struck a six in his 12 which came off 40 balls before he was caught by KL Rahul off Ritesh Bhatkal.
Abhishek Reddy too went soon thereafter as he was caught by Rahul off Madhav Bajaj after making a 60-ball 29 with a four.
Sreeram Rahul, who had struck a century in the first innings, and Revanth Reddy, who was out for 97, again came to Andhra’s rescue. The duo played out the remaining overs to salvage a draw for their side. They added 51 for the unbroken fifth wicket partnership and more importantly consumed 18 testing overs to see their side safely home. Andhra were 104 for four when play was called off with Rahul on 35 off 85 balls with five fours and Revanth on 20 off 52 balls with four boundaries.
Karun Nair scores unbeaten 155
Earlier, resuming at their overnight score of 176 for four with Karun Nair on 81 and skipper Ravichandran Smaran on 21, Karnataka lost Smaran with the addition of six runs to the total as he was caught by A Reddy off Tripurana Vijay.
Karun Nair leads Karnataka fightback after conceding 144-run first innings lead to Andhra
Karun and KL Shrijith then added 43 for the sixth wicket before left-arm spinner Lalith Mohan bowled Shrijith (19). However, Karun found an able partner in Madhav Bajaj and the duo added 48 for the seventh wicket before Bajaj (27) was stumped by K Revanth Reddy off Lalith Mohan.
Abhilash Shetty (4) fell cheaply but Karun and No.10 bat Ritesh Bhatkal added 45 for the ninth wicket before Bhatkal (23) was caught behind by K Revanth Reddy off Lalith Mohan. Karun remained not out on 155 and Shikhar Shetty was on 3 when Smaran applied the declaration with Karnataka reaching 337 for nine in 103 overs.
Lalith Mohan took five for 117, while fellow left-arm spinner Saurabh Kumar took three for 85.
Brief scores: Karnataka 274 & 337 for nine declared (Manvanth Kumar 44, Karun Nair 155, Madhav Bajaj 27, Ritesh Bhatkal 23; Lalith Mohan 5/117, Saurabh Kumar 3/85) drew with Andhra 418 & 104 for four in 44 overs (Abhishek Reddy 29, Sreeram Rahul 35 not out, Revanth Reddy 20 not out; Shikhar Shetty 2/32).
