Ranji Trophy, Karnataka vs Rajasthan: Entering Day 4 of the Ranji Trophy quarterfinal at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, Karnataka needed 139 runs to win. The hosts lost a wicket early on and it brought out Manish Pandey into the middle. The skipper took a little while to get settled in and when he did, he played a superb knock to power Karnataka home – hitting 14 runs in five balls to chase down the 184 run target. Karun Nair dutifully held fort at the other to remain unbeaten on 61 runs. Their 128 run win moved Karnataka into the semifinals where they face the winner of UP vs Saurashtra.
While Pandey would get the limelight at the end, it is Vinay Kumar’s 83 run knock that wins the Man of the Match for the difference between these two teams. His knock not just helped Karnataka avoid a 50+ first innings deficit, but also gave instilled confidence in his team – which helped them chase down the total.
Karnataka win!
KARNATAKA WIN! What a way to do it! Manish Pandey with a blitz of six, four and four to chase down 184 runs. Karnataka are through to the semis with a six wicket win. Needing 14 runs as Rahul Chahar came on to bowl, Pandey has made ease of the chase. Six over mid-wicket to start with, four wide of mid-wicket boundary and then past square leg for another boundary. Manish Pandey unbeaten on 87 runs from 75 balls and Karun Nair on 61 from 129 balls
50s for Pandey, Nair
Karun Nair brings up his fifty with a single off Rahul Chahar. Two overs later, Manish Pandey gets there too. Survived a drop and now he's powering Karnataka to the win.
100 up for Karnataka
Boundary and a single from Manish Pandey later, Karun Nair takes another single in the 31st over by Aniket Choudhary to bring up Karnataka's 100 runs at a loss of four wickets.
FOUR!
Manish Pandey with a strong start. Expected the short of length delivery from Aniket Choudhary, went deep in his crease and opens the face of the bat to dink it in the gap between the slip and gully. Karnataka move across to 92/4
WICKET!
Ronit More is the first wicket to fall this morning. He falls prey to Tanvir-ul-Haq for 8 runs from 30 balls. Big sound and up goes the finger. More is waiting to see if this is a no ball. Seems like Ul-Haq has overstepped but there isn't conclusive proof due to Karun Nair's bat blocking the view. Third umpire takes long time to make the decision. And it remains out. It was fuller and just outside off, draws the batsman forward and finds the outside edge. Karnataka are 56/4
Day 4 underway
Ronit More and Karun Nair get things underway for Karnataka on the fourth day. Needing 184 to win, they've wiped out 49 runs from that required total. Karnataka, meanwhile, need 7 wickets to make the semi-finals. Who will get there first?