Ranji Trophy: Gopal, Sreenath put Karnataka in command against UP

Champions Karnataka secured a massive 499-run first innings lead over Uttar Pradesh, who managed a meagre 220 as the hosts decided against enforcing a follow-on and were eight without loss at stumps on the third day of the Group A Ranji Trophy league match here Saturday.

Leg-spinner Shreyas Gopal (4/51), who had contributed 90 runs to Karnataka’s first innings tally of 719/9 declared, and seamer Arvind Sreenath (3/48) did the bulk of damage as the Uttar Pradesh batsmen, save Himanshu Asnora (70, 172b, 8x4) did not offer much of a resistance.

UP were never really in the hunt after losing three wickets for 61 before Asnora and Parvinder Singh (34) added 83 runs for the fourth wicket to retrieve the situation.

However, once the partnership was broken, the end of the innings followed swiftly, leaving Karnataka with a lead of 499.

The 21-year-old Gopal took four wickets, including those of Parvinder and Asnora, in a little over 10 overs to break the UP resistance.

The hosts opted to bat again rather than enforce the follow-on with very little time left before the stumps and also to provide some breather to their bowlers.

Brief scores: Karnataka 719/9 declared and 8/0 in 3 overs vs Uttar Pradesh (first innings) 220 all out in 87.4 overs (Mukul Dagar 30, Himanshu Asnora 70, Parvinder Singh 34; Shreyas Gopal 4/51, Arvind Sreenath 3/48, Vinay Kumar 2/58).

IANS