Shivamogga: The sun barely made an appearance here on Monday, but cloudy skies suited Karnataka’s bowlers just fine as their four-pronged pace attack breathed fire in the first two sessions of play. However, try as they might, that attack couldn’t breach the defences of Arjun Tendulkar (43 batting) and Mohit Redkar (24 not out), who put on an unconquered 56-run partnership for the seventh wicket, a stand that halted Karnataka’s inexorable march towards the first-innings lead in this Ranji Trophy fixture. On another weather-curtailed day at the KSCA Navule Stadium here, Goa’s lower-order resistance took some sheen off Karnataka’s fine bowling. Responding to the home team’s first-innings score of 371, Goa reached 171/6 in 77 overs, still 200 runs in deficit and 50 shy of the follow-on when bad light ended play. An hour of play was lost in the morning due to a wet outfield, and only 64 overs were bowled on Day 3.
Given Karnataka’s tryst with the weather in recent times, a win looks improbable. Three points from this outing look far more likely, but that may not be enough given Karnataka managed only a point in their opener and have sterner tests to come. The new-ball pair of Vidwath Kaverappa (2/30) and Abhilash Shetty (3/63) began sprightly enough, making optimum use of the conditions. They extracted movement off the surface and bowled to a plan and with purpose. The amalgamation of experience and youth worked well for the hosts as the duo bowled the day’s first 13 overs between them. Resuming from 28/1, Goa’s top order appeared positive in the face of that tough examination, but resistance quickly faded. Suyash Prabhudessai added a lone run to his overnight score of 11 before edging a full-length delivery from Kaverappa to wicketkeeper KL Shrijith. Most of Goa’s top and middle-order batters were done in by the rising ball, with skipper Snehal Kauthankar being no exception. He nicked Abhilash to Shrijith. When Kaverappa got Abhinav Tejrana’s number, caught by Nikin Jose in the slips, Goa were in disarray at 51/4. Lalit Yadav and Darshan Misal then held the innings together, facing 150 deliveries for 49 runs. When Misal, whose 12-run resistance came off 84 deliveries, tried to break free, he only sent a Yashovardhan Parantap delivery to Karun Nair at first slip. Lalit Yadav’s miscued pull ended his vigil as well.Arjun and Redkar then took centre stage, with half-chances and a couple of missed run-out opportunities frustrating Mayank Agarwal & Co. While caution was the watchword, loose balls, like a short one from Abhilash to Arjun, were not spared. Karnataka will hope for the weather to hold up on the final day.SCOREBOARD Karnataka (I innings): 371 Goa (I innings; o/n 28/1): Manthan Khutkar c Shrijith b Abhilash 9, Suyash Prabhudessai c Shrijith b Kaverappa 12, Abhinav Tejrana c Jose b Kaverappa 18, Snehal Kauthankar c Shrijith b Abhilash 10, Lalit Yadav c Parantap b Abhilash 36, Darshan Misal c Karun b Parantap 12, Arjun Tendulkar (batting) 43, Mohit Redkar (batting) 24. Extras: (B-2; LB-4; NB-1): 7. Total (6 wkts; 77 overs): 171. Fall of wickets: 1-9, 2-29, 3-47, 4-51, 5-100, 6-115. Bowling: Vidwath Kaverappa 18-5-30-2, Abhilash Shetty 18-3-63-3, Yashovardhan Parantap 16-6-18-1, Vyshak Vijaykumar 17-2-41-0, Shreyas Gopal 8-2-13-0.