ir's unbeaten 310 pushes Kartaka’s lead to 484 runs

Ranji Fil

Mumbai, March 10:  Karun ir's unbeaten 310 helped Kartaka reach 618/7 on the third day of the Ranji Trophy fil at the Wankhede Stadium here on Tuesday.

With only two days remaining, Kartaka have taken a mammoth 484-run lead that puts them on course for retaining the title.

Chasing Tamil du’s first innings total of 134, the defending champions were 323/5 on Monday. Both the overnight batsmen Karun ir, then on 130, and Lokesh Rahul, then on 131, continued to flay the opposition bowlers.

Indian Test opener Rahul was dismissed at the persol score of 188 when he offered a catch to Vijay Shankar off Malolan Rangarajan. The right-hander hit 17 fours and three sixes during his ninth first-class century.

But the 22-year-old had already put his team in position of strength at 470/6. He and ir forged a 384-run stand for the sixth wicket that marked a complete turround. They had joined hands when Kartaka were reeling at 84/5.

ir, 23, notched up his first triple hundred in the first-class cricket and ensured that his team bats Tamil du out of the contest.

He has so far faced 533 deliveries, hitting 45 of them to the fence and one over it. After the wicket of Rahul, Shreyas Gopal (11) also lost his wicket but that didn't bother right-hander ir. R. Viy Kumar provided a very good support from the other end and the skipper is on 41.

It will be a formality when Viy declares the innings on Wednesday. Considering the huge lead, Kartaka are expected to go for the jugular. Even if Tamil du put up a brave fight in the second innings, Kartaka will be ruway winners on the basis of first innings lead.

Brief scores: Tamil du 134 all out vs Kartaka 618/7 (Karun ir 310 not out, Lokesh Rahul 188; Lakshmipathy Balaji 3/95, Malolan Rangarajan 2/155) at stumps on Day 3. IANS