Bowlers Hand Karnataka Advantage Against Tamil Nadu In Ranji Trophy Match

Karnataka bowlers rose to the occasion to reduce Tamil Nadu to 129 for 7 after Devdutt Padikkal's superb 151 to take the visitors to a commanding position at stumps on the second day of their Ranji Trophy Group C match in Chennai on Saturday. Southpaw Padikkal, who continued his red-hot form, scored 151 off 218 balls with the help of 12 boundaries and six maximums, his third Ranji Trophy hundred this season, but failed to add on to his overnight score after being dismissed in the second ball of the day.

Resuming at the overnight score of 288 for 5, Hardik Raj (51) completed his maiden first-class fifty, while wicketkeeper Srinivas Sharath made 45 off 83 balls with the last five Karnataka batters adding just 78 runs to be bowled out for 366 in 119.4 overs.

But the Karnataka bowlers equally responded to their batting colleagues, picking up wickets at regular intervals to reduce their southern opponents to 129 for seven in 56 overs.

Off-spinner L Sashi Kumar (3/41) picked up three wickets, while Hardik (2/47) chipped in with two scalps. Vidwath Kaverappa (1/12) and Vijaykumar Vyshak (1/19) also shared the spoils between them.

Narayan Jagadeesan (40 off 56), Baba Indrajith (35 not out) and Vimal Kumar (14) were the only only double digit contributors for Tamil Nadu.

At the close of play, Tamil Nadu still trail Karnataka by 237 runs.

In another Group C tie in Mohali, Gujarat took the vital first innings lead over Punjab.

Resuming at the overnight score of 250 for eight, Gujarat finished at 339 in 94.3 overs but produced a superb bowling display to bundle out the hosts for 219 in 56.5 overs.

Medium pacer Priyajitsing Jadeja starred with the ball with figures of 5 for 60, while Chintan Gaja (3/71) accounted for three wickets.

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