Press Trust of India
Mumbai, March 10: Karun Nair’s unbeaten 310 (533b, 45×4, 1×6) put defending champions, Karnataka in the driver’s seat against their southern rivals Tamil Nadu on day three of the Ranji Trophy final at the Wankhede stadium here, Tuesday. At stumps, Karnataka were 618 for the loss of seven wickets – an overall lead of 484 runs.
Nair, who scored his maiden first class triple century put on 386 runs for the sixth wicket with Lokesh Rahul (188, 328b, 17×4, 3×6) to dash Tamil Nadu hopes. The youngster is nine runs shy of equalising Gul Mohammad’s record of 319 for Baroda against Holkar in 1946-47, for the highest score in a Ranji final.
Resuming at their overnight score of 323 for five, Nair took the charge as he surpassed Gundappa Vishwanath’s 247 against Uttar Pradesh in 1977-78, for the highest individual score scored by a Karnataka batsman in the Ranji Trophy summit clash.
Resuming after lunch at 446 for five, Karnataka lost Rahul as he miscued a shot to be caught at long-on by Vijay Shankar of Malolan Rangarajan. Karnataka lost another wicket soon after they posted 500, when Shreyas Gopal was caught behind of the bowling of Aswin Crist.
Unfazed by the wickets falling at the other end, Nair compiled an unbeaten 117 run stand with skipper Vinay Kumar (41 batting, 175b, 4×4, 1×6) for the eighth wicket to take Karnataka past the 600-run mark.
Brief scores: Tamil Nadu 134; Karnataka 618 for seven (Karun Nair 310 batting, Lokesh Rahul 188). Match to continue.