Ranji Trophy: Karun Nair, Kaverappa star as Karnataka settle for three points against Goa | Cricket News

Shivamogga:Karnataka assured themselves of three points within the first hour on the final day of their Ranji Trophy league match against Goa here on Tuesday, but the question of whether they could enforce a win lingered until resistance from Goa’s batters and a paucity of time provided an answer. Asked to follow on, opener Manthan Khutkar (55 n.o.) and Abhinav Tejrana (73) finally found their bearings as Goa fended off the home team’s attack. They took Goa to 143/1 in 46 overs when the teams decided to shake hands in the final session. Karnataka’s pacers had their task cut out in the first session, and they quickly made the most of early assistance from the surface to bowl out Goa for 217 in 87.2 overs — just four runs short of avoiding a follow-on. In Goa’s second innings, Vyshak Vijaykumar then raised hopes of an outright win when he trapped Suyash Prabhudessai (13) in front, but jubilation and enthusiasm slowly waned as they ran into a Goan wall. Rain also hampered play, eating into the first 15 minutes of lunch and then forcing an early tea break. By then, Karnataka looked resigned to taking three points from the match. In terms of batting, the biggest takeaways for Karnataka from the contest were the form of Karun Nair (174 n.o.) and all-rounder Shreyas Gopal (57). While the return of Vyshak Vijaykumar and Vidwath Kaverappa bolstered the pace attack, both are yet to begin bowling at full tilt. Kaverappa’s bowling, though, was the highlight of the first session on Tuesday at the KSCA Navule Stadium. In overcast conditions, he came up with a fine exhibition of swing and precision, backed by an excellent line. Goa resumed from 171/6 and needed 201 to surpass Karnataka’s first-innings score. Kaverappa struck in the second over, inducing a nick from Arjun Tendulkar (47). Mohit Redkar (53) counter-attacked and even bludgeoned three maximums — two off Kaverappa. But he eventually miscued a short ball from the Kodava bowler to wicketkeeper KL Shrijith. Samar Dubhashi then chased a widish delivery and nicked it to R. Smaran at third slip to complete Kaverappa’s five-wicket haul, his first since February 2024. It didn’t take long for Vyshak to send his former team-mate V. Koushik’s stump cartwheeling to signal the end of Goa’s first innings. Kaverappa is certain to draw confidence from this performance, especially since he endured a lengthy injury lay-off last season and featured in only one Ranji Trophy match. It will also boost his team’s morale. This was the 26-year-old’s first red-ball game in nearly nine months, and he admitted that he bowled to about 80% of his potential. “I wasn’t at my best,” Kaverappa said. “I felt a little rusty in the beginning since I’m coming back from a long layoff. But it felt good to contribute to the team and at least get three points on the board.” Karnataka travel to Thiruvananthapuram next to take on Kerala.SCOREBOARDKarnataka (I innings): 371Goa (I innings; o/n 171/6): Arjun Tendulkar c Shrijith b Kaverappa 47, Mohit Redkar c Shrijith b Kaverappa 53, Samar Dubhashi c Smaran b Kaverappa 6, V. Koushik b Vyshak 5, Vijesh Prabhudesai (not out) 1. Extras (NB-1, B-3, LB-4, NB-5): 9. Total (all out; in 87.2 overs): 217 Fall of wickets: 7-185, 8-212, 9-213. Bowling: Vidwath Kaverappa 23-6-51-5, Abhilash Shetty 22-3-74-3, Yashovardhan Parantap 16-6-18-1, Vyshak Vijaykumar 18.2-2-53-1, Shreyas Gopal 8-2-13-0.Goa (II innings): Manthan Khutkar (not out) 55, Suyash Prabhudessai lbw Vyshak 13, Abhinav Tejrana (not out) 73. Extras (LB-2): 2. Total (1 wkt; 46 overs): 143. Fall of wicket: 1-20. Bowling: Kaverappa 8-2-12-0, Vyshak 8-1-33-1, Abhilash 7-1-20-0, Yashovardhan 7-2-20-0, Shreyas 9-1-28-0, Nikin Jose 7-0-28-0.