Karnataka fluffed a gilt-edged opportunity to secure the first-innings lead as it allowed the Saurashtra tail to add 46 runs for the last two wickets on day three of their Ranji Trophy match at the Alur Grounds near here on Tuesday.
But that was largely academic, for the visitors had managed to hoodwink Karnataka. With Mayank Agarwal not taking strike owing to a finger injury sustained while fielding, K.V. In fact, it was a repeat of last year’s opening fixture wherein Saurashtra’s last two wickets scored 58 to deny Karnataka the first-innings bragging rights. Sammar Gajjar of Saurashtra in action against Karnataka during their 2026-27 Ranji Trophy Elite match at the Aluru Cricket Stadium in Bengaluru on Tuesday 20 October 2026. | Photo Credit: SUDHAKARA JAIN Having obtained just one point from its opener against Andhra last week, the home side now has to aggressively seek an outright victory. For that, it has to build quickly on the 92-run lead it is sitting on — with eight wickets left — and give itself adequate time to bowl Saurashtra out on the final day. Aneesh opened and scored 37 confident runs (60b, 5×4). Even though he has the in-form Karun Nair for company (19 batting, 46b, 2×4), Karnataka has its task cut out. Vasavada, 37, has long been Karnataka’s nemesis, having scored 644 runs from 14 innings leading into this contest. Gajjar, 23, emerged as the new tormentor-in-chief, picking boundaries at will with his immaculate timing. Vidwath Kaverappa and Vyshak, however, brought Karnataka back into the game, taking three wickets for five runs to reduce Saurashtra from 298 for five to 303 for eight.
Kaverappa operated at full tilt, a heartening sight for the home dressing room after the pacer had left the field on Monday holding his right calf.