Ranji Trophy 2020: KL Rahul falls for duck as Karnataka still needs 254 runs with 7 wickets in hand

Karnataka is chasing 352 runs to win the semis against Bengal.

KL Rahul | Getty

KL Rahul | Getty

India wicket-keeper batsman KL Rahul who was at his best in New Zealand was rested from the recently concluded Test series. After returning home, KL joined his Ranji team Karnataka in the final encounter against Bengal.

While all eyes were set at KL Rahul as he took guard at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata, the right-hander who had a statement to make in the five-day match, he failed in both innings. He scored just 26 runs in the first innings and failed to even open his account in the second essay when the team was chasing a huge total of 352 runs.

Bengal resumed the third day with the scoreboard reading 72/4, were bundled out for 161 with Karnataka bowlers Abhimanyu Mithun (4/23) and Krishnappa Gowtham (3/15).

As far as Karnataka’s batting is concerned, after Rahul, fellow opener Ravikumar Samarth and skipper Karun Nair were also dismissed in quick succession but the 19-year-old Devdutt Padikkal who top-scored with a superb fifty to his name steadied their ship with right-hand batsman Manish Pandey as they still need 254 more runs to win.

In the other semifinal between Gujarat and Saurashtra, medium-pacer Chintan Gaja who took a superb five-wicket haul brought Gujarat back in the game as they reduced Saurashtra to 66/5 with a lead of 118 runs.

While Gaja ran through the Saurashtra batting line-up, experienced Arpit Vasavada along with Chetan Sakariya stood tall and even though they just got 23 and 32 runs to their names respectively, they ensured that their side ended the third day with 5 wickets still in the bank.

(With IANS inputs)

 
 

By Swapnil Shireesh Javkhedkar - 02 Mar, 2020

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