Rajkot – Karnataka’s reluctance to declare early cost them a chance to win when their Ranji Trophy Elite Group B match against Saurashtra finished in a 128‑5 draw on Saturday.
Karnataka could have taken advantage of a spin‑friendly pitch, but their decision to bat through the second session left Saurashtra with enough time to chase a modest target.
Leg spinner Shreyas Gopal was the star for Karnataka, taking six wickets in the first innings and a brilliant three in Saurashtra’s second. His flight, control and variations kept the hosts on the ropes as the uneven surface offered turning, letting him finish with an impressive 11‑wicket haul.
Saurashtra started light, struggling against the unpredictable bounce in the 13th over and finding themselves 43‑4. But a gritty partnership between Gajjar Sammar and concussion substitute Jay Gohil steadied the innings. Sammar made 43 off 110 balls, and Gohil added 41 off 73. Together they added 81 runs for the fifth wicket, batting 26 overs to keep Karnataka’s bowlers on edge and secure the draw.
The hosts’ batting also saw quick knocks from skipper Mayank Agarwal, who scored a tidy 64, and wicket‑keeper KL Shrijith, who hit 31 off 30 balls. Despite a 180‑run lead, Karnataka chose not to declare and missed an extra hour to attack a vulnerable Saurashtra top order.
With the match ending level, Karnataka can’t walk away with points, while Saurashtra took home a vital three points from the 128‑5 finish. The game highlighted the importance of timely declarations and the impact of spin on the Ranji Trophy frontline.
Source: ianslive
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