Karnataka’s Mayank Agarwal, plays a shot, on day 1 of the Ranji Trophy 2024-25 match between against Haryana, at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium (KSCA), in Bengaluru on January 30, 2025. | Photo Credit: K. MURALI KUMAR

RANJI TROPHY | Karnataka’s batters have a middling day at the office against Haryana

CRICKET | Mayank sparkles at the top but misses out on a well-deserved century; Rahul comes up with a scrappy knock; Padikkal and Smaran get starts but fail to carry on

by · The Hindu

Karnataka’s hopes of gaining a bonus point victory took a minor hit on the first day of its Elite ‘C’ Ranji Trophy match against Haryana at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium here on Thursday.

The home team, which needs seven points to qualify to the knockout round, was unable to put on a dominant display with the bat. There were handy contributions aplenty, but the absence of big knocks kept the score to 267 for five.

Captain Mayank Agarwal (91, 149b, 8x4, 3x6) sparkled at the top of the order. K.L. Rahul, playing his first Ranji Trophy match in five years, could only manage a scrappy 26.

Rahul began his stint with a thick edge to the third man boundary, before surviving a shocker. Batting on 9, Rahul neatly guided a delivery to slip. The catcher grassed the low chance, allowing Rahul to stay on.

Karnataka’s Mayank Agarwal and K.L. Rahul cross over for a single on day 1 of the Ranji Trophy 2024-25 match against Haryana, at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium (KSCA), in Bengaluru on January 30, 2025. | Photo Credit: K. MURALI KUMAR

Rahul was unable to capitalise, nicking an outswinger from Anshul Kamboj to the wicketkeeper.

Mayank and K.V. Aneesh (17, 67b, 2x4) did a fine job seeing off the new ball. The tricky morning session was handled with patience and a straight bat. Once Aneesh departed, Mayank opened up. He danced down the track to spinners Nishant Sindhu and Jayant Yadav, lofting them over cover for maximums.

He moved into the nineties with a commanding drive on the up to pacer Anuj Thakral. Inexplicably, Mayank slashed hard at the very next delivery to offer a catch to deep point. A distraught Mayank failed in his attempt to up the tempo. 

Karnataka’s Mayank Agarwal plays a shot on day 1 of the Ranji Trophy 2024-25 match against Haryana, at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium (KSCA), in Bengaluru on January 30, 2025. | Photo Credit: K. MURALI KUMAR

Devdutt Padikkal (43) was fluent and graceful, until he was trapped on the pads by Thakral. R. Smaran (35), who scored a double century in the previous match, was plumb in front having missed a skiddy turner from Sindhu.

The scores: Karnataka — 1st innings: K.V. Aneesh b Kamboj 17, Mayank Agarwal c Kamboj b Thakral 91, K.L. Rahul c Rohit b Kamboj 26, Devdutt Padikkal lbw b Thakral 43, R. Smaran lbw b Sindhu 35, K.L. Shrijith (batting) 18, Yashovardhan Parantap (batting) 27; Extras (nb-2, w-3, lb-5): 10; Total (for five wkts. in 89 overs): 267.

Fall of wickets: 1-45, 2-99, 3-161, 4-220, 5-222.

Haryana bowling: Kamboj 16-3-25-2, Chahal 18-4-52-0, Thakral 18-2-74-2, Sindhu 19-3-45-1, Jayant 18-2-66-0.

Published - January 30, 2025 06:51 pm IST