Retaining Ranji Trophy title a mere formality for Kartaka

Mumbai, March 11: Tamil du were rocked back in their second innings too, as they were reduced to 113 for three after conceding a 628-run first innings lead to Kartaka at the end of the fourth day’s play in the Ranji Trophy fil at the Wankhede Stadium here on Wednesday.

Earlier in the day, Kartaka added to their overnight score of 618 for seven, with right-hand middle-order batsman Karun ir filly finishing on an individual score of 328 runs — the highest in a Ranji Trophy fil in the 92-year history of the country’s premier domestic cricket tourment.

ir, 23, went past Baroda batsman Gul Mohammad’s 319 made against Holkar in the 1946-47 season fil.

Skipper R. Viy Kumar also scored a ton (105) to ensure they amassed a monumental total of 762 all out.

Later in the day, leg spinning all-rounder Shreyas Gopal pegged back the Tamil du batting, picking up figures of 2/36 as he cleaned up opener Abhiv Mukund (13) and Baba Indrajith (18). Viy took the other wicket that of India Test opener Murali Vijay (27).

With only seven wickets in hand and a deficit of 515 runs, Tamil du are truly staring down defeat, while Kartaka would want to claim the rest of the scalps on the last day to register themselves as back-to-back Ranji Trophy champions.

Even if they don’t bowl Tamil du out, they will prevail on first innings lead.

Brief scores: Tamil du 134 all out, 113 for three (Baba Aparijith 36 not out; Shreyas Gopal 2/36) vs Kartaka 762 all out (Karun ir 328, Lokesh Rahul 188; Lakshmipathy Balaji 3/120, Malolan Rangarajan 3/183) at stumps on Day 4. (IANS)