Ranji Trophy 2023-24: Spinners Rohit Kumar, Shubhang Hegde arrange Karnataka’s seven-wicket win over Punjab

Karnataka ensured a optimistic begin to its 2023-24 Ranji Trophy marketing campaign by registering a seven-wicket win over Punjab on the KSCA Rajnagar Stadium in Hubballi on Monday.

The solely grouse the house aspect may have is the failure to seize the bonus level that comes with an innings victory or a 10-wicket triumph, for Karnataka first let go of a humongous 362-run first-innings lead after which couldn’t chase down the 52-run goal with all wickets intact.

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Skipper Mayank Agarwal bagged a pair, Nikin Jose fell cheaply for a second straight event and first-innings centurion Devdutt Padikkal — the participant of the match — couldn’t bat as he had spent all morning off the sphere owing to a abdomen bug. But R. Samarth (21, 38b, 4×4) and Sharath Srinivas (21 n.o., 47b, 1×4, 1×6) calmed the nerves and carried their staff dwelling.

The victory, although, was set-up by the bowlers within the morning. Speedsters V. Vyshak, V. Koushik and Vidwath Kaverappa softened Punjab’s in a single day batters Mandeep Singh and Nehal Wadhera with some incisive spells earlier than the left-arm tweakers Rohit Kumar and Shubhang Hegde struck gold.

Debutant and Hubballi lad Rohit, who had struggled on day three together with his lengths, lastly landed one in the appropriate spot to rearrange captain Mandeep’s stumps. At the opposite finish, Wadhera confidently walked right into a shot however ended up spooning a return catch to Shubhang.

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Wicket-keeper Gitansh Khera (43, 81b, 6×4) and Mayank Markande (36, 67b, 6×4) mixed for a 61-run partnership for the seventh wicket, with the previous executing some superb sweep photographs. An overdose of the stroke, nonetheless, led to his downfall as Rohit slid one by to fortress him and be Karnataka’s breakthrough man once more.

India pacer Arshdeep Singh swung freely to smash three fours and three sixes (36, 34b, 3×4, 3×6), and compelled Karnataka to bat once more. But Mayank had males stationed within the deep for false hits and it was not lengthy earlier than Arshdeep holed out at deep mid-wicket.

No. 11 Baltej Singh performed a cameo of his personal (22, 10b, 2×4, 2×6), however none might deny Karnataka the six factors.