Ranji Trophy semi-finals: Rahul, Padikkal's ton puts Karnataka into strong position against Uttarakhand at stumps (Day 1)
Lucknow, February 15
India's star batters KL Rahul and Devdutt Padikkal slammed outstanding centuries for Karnataka on the opening day of 1st Semi Final against Uttarakhand in Lucknow on Sunday.
Rahul made a majestic 141 off 211 balls, including 11 fours and five sixes, before getting out while Padikkal remained unbeaten on 148 at stumps alongside Karun Nair to help his side reach 355-2.
After being asked to bat first, Rahul, along with Mayank Agarwal, started cautiously against the new ball. However, in the ninth over, Aditya Rawat dismissed Agarwal for just five runs.
Rahul then forged a massive 278-run stand with Padikkal, and both batters notched up centuries to put Karnataka firmly in control. Rawat was the only bowler among the wickets for Uttarakhand as he removed both Mayank and Rahul.
Uttarakhand sealed their spot in the last four with an innings-and-six-run victory over Jharkhand in Jamshedpur, while Karnataka notched up a four-wicket victory over Mumbai.
In the second semi-final at Kalyani, Sudip Kumar Gharami followed his career-best 299 with an unbeaten 136, rescuing Bengal for the second straight game against Jammu and Kashmir on day one. Coming in during the second over, he lifted Bengal from 89/3 to 249/5 by stumps.
Skipper Abhimanyu Easwaran missed a half-century, falling for 49 to Auqib Nabi, while Sudip Chatterjee and Suraj Sindhu Jaiswal both went for ducks. Shahbaz Ahmed chipped in with a solid 42 before Sunil Kumar dismissed him.
Speedsters Auqib Nabi and Sunil Kumar were among the wickets for Jammu and Kashmir as both the seamers took two wickets each, while Vanshaj Sharma only chipped in with a wicket.
— ANI
Reader Comments
So happy for Devdutt Padikkal! He's been waiting for his chance and he's grabbing it with both hands. A double century is on the cards tomorrow. Uttarakhand bowlers must be having nightmares about that 278-run partnership.
While the batting is fantastic, we must also appreciate the grit shown by Bengal's Sudip Gharami. Back-to-back rescue acts! The Ranji Trophy is producing some real heroes this season. The domestic circuit is so strong.
A small point of criticism: the article jumps between the two matches a bit too much. It would be easier to follow if the Karnataka and Bengal matches had clearer separate sections. Just a suggestion for better readability.
Watching these performances makes you realize the depth of talent in India. Players like Padikkal and Gharami are waiting in the wings. The future of Indian cricket is in very safe hands. 🇮🇳
Tough day for Uttarakhand, but credit to Aditya Rawat for getting the two big wickets. They need early breakthroughs tomorrow or this game will slip away quickly. Karnataka has all the momentum.
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