Hubli, Feb 26 (NationPress) In their pursuit of Jammu and Kashmir’s formidable first-innings score, Karnataka cautiously reached 35/1 in 13 overs by Lunch on Day 3. Skipper Mayank Agarwal remained unbeaten on 16, while Devdutt Padikkal contributed 4.

The new-ball combination of Auqib Nabi Dar and Sunil Kumar for Jammu and Kashmir displayed remarkable precision early on, maintaining tight lines and generating movement that kept KL Rahul and Agarwal under constant scrutiny.

Both openers had to adopt a cautious approach, with runs being hard to come by as Auqib bowled consecutive maidens and repeatedly beat Rahul outside the off stump.

Rahul eventually relieved some pressure by finding a couple of crisp boundaries off Sunil Kumar, but Auqib delivered the vital breakthrough for Jammu and Kashmir. He bowled a skiddy back-of-a-length delivery that straightened after pitching, inducing a faint edge from Rahul, which wicketkeeper Kanhaiya Wadhawan safely caught. The decision was upheld after a successful review, marking Auqib's 56th wicket of the season and reducing Karnataka to 27/1 in 11.2 overs.

Padikkal opened his account with a boundary off a full toss, while Agarwal also struck the fence with well-controlled shots through the off side. Yudhvir Singh Charak bowled with good pace and movement but finished the session wicketless.

Despite Rahul's dismissal, Karnataka batters remained patient against a disciplined Jammu and Kashmir attack, managing to score 35 runs before Lunch on Day 3.

Earlier in the session, Karnataka pacer Prasidh Krishna led a resolute bowling performance, achieving a five-wicket haul as Jammu and Kashmir were bowled out for an impressive 584 on Day 3 of the Ranji Trophy final at the Hubli Cricket Ground. Despite some late breakthroughs, Jammu and Kashmir maintained control after a dominant batting display that spanned nearly three days.

Resuming with their lower order at the crease, Jammu and Kashmir sought to extend their commanding total. Sahil Lotra and Abid Mushtaq formed a patient partnership, negotiating the second new ball with composure. The breakthrough for Karnataka came when Prasidh dismissed Abid Mushtaq for 28 with a sharp short delivery that was caught at mid-on. Prasidh completed his five-wicket haul when Auqib Nabi Dar edged a fuller ball to Kruthik Krishna, showcasing his persistence on a challenging surface.

Lotra scored 72, anchoring the innings for Jammu and Kashmir before falling to Vyshak while attempting an aggressive pull, consolidating their total beyond 570 runs. Yudhvir Singh Charak added late momentum with a quick 30, hitting several boundaries and a six before being run out after a mix-up, concluding the innings. Prasidh’s figures read 5 for 98, making him the standout bowler for Karnataka.

Facing a daunting deficit, Karnataka now faces a significant challenge in their first innings, with momentum strongly in favor of Jammu and Kashmir.

Brief Scores: Karnataka 35/1 in 13 ov (Mayank Agarwal 16*, Devdutt Padikkal 4*; Auqib Nabi Dar 1-8) trail Jammu and Kashmir 584/10 in 173.1 ov (Shubham Pundir 121, Yawer Hassan 88, Sahil Lotra 72, Kanhaiya Wadhawan 70, Paras Dogra 70; Prasidh Krishna 5-98) by 549 runs