Ranji Trophy 2023-24 quarterfinals: Karun Nair’s knock offers Vidarbha the higher hand towards Karnataka on Day 2

Karun Nair plans to get dinner along with his outdated mates within the Karnataka camp in a few days. But for now, it’s pure enterprise.

Kinship was put aside on Saturday, as Karun’s stylish 90 gave Vidarbha the higher hand towards his former staff on the second day of their Ranji Trophy quarterfinal outing in Nagpur on Saturday.

Vidarbha posted an imposing 460 earlier than Karnataka moved to 98 for 2 on the shut of play.

Karun, who spent the primary decade of his profession within the Karnataka facet, placed on a driving exhibition – something full or on size was met with crisp ahead motion and a flowing bat. With timing and magnificence, Karun collected boundaries aplenty within the ‘V’.

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The 32-year-old seemed on the right track to attain his third hundred of the season, till he obtained an unplayable supply from pacer Vidwath Kaverappa which flattened his off stump.

Karun defined that whereas it ‘felt different’ to bat towards his friends, the top purpose remained unchanged.

“I play to win. It doesn’t matter who I play against. I’m not very satisfied with this knock. I’m disappointed [that] I could not get a big hundred,” Karun mentioned.

Handy contributions from Aditya Sarwate (26), Harsh Dubey (20), Yash Thakur (31) and Umesh Yadav (21 n.o.) added heft to Vidarbha’s trigger.

With spinners Hardik Raj and Dheeraj Gowda rendered ineffective, Karnataka quick bowlers Kaverappa (4/99), V. Vyshak (1/88) and V. Koushik (1/70) did the heavy lifting. The trio confirmed resolve to bowl 96.1 overs between them, even when outcomes didn’t come simple.

Wicketkeeper Sharath Srinivas displayed nice athleticism when he dived to his left to snap up Sarwate. Srinivas then ran in to gather a poor throw and flicked it underhand again onto the stumps to catch Aditya Thakare in need of the crease.

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Karnataka desperately wanted its batters to grind and encourage hope. In this regard, captain Mayank Agarwal and teenager Okay.V. Aneesh failed. Facing solely his third supply, Mayank tried a unfastened shot outdoors off and nicked it.

Aneesh (34, 48b, 6×4) seemed good in patches, however as stumps approached, he gifted his wicket away by fishing nicely away from the physique.

Opener R. Samarth (43 batting) and Nikin Jose (20 batting) lived to struggle one other day.