Smaran en route his double hundred.
| Photo Credit: NIRMAL HARINDRAN
After its batters buried Kerala under a mountain of runs, Karnataka’s pacers blew away the host’s makeshift top-order to put their side in command at the end of the second day’s play in the Ranji Trophy Elite Group-B match at the KCA Stadium, Mangalapuram, near here on Sunday.
Vidwath Kaverappa (two for seven) and V. Vyshak (one for 14) reduced Kerala to 21 for three at stumps after Karnataka declared its first innings at 586 for five. Karun Nair (233, 389b, 25×4, 2×6) and R. Smaran (220 not out, 390b, 16×4, 3×6) belted double centuries and added 343 runs for the fourth wicket to send the host on a leather hunt.
The last thing N.P. Basil wanted was to bat after delivering 32 lion-hearted overs but he was sent in as the opener to negotiate the tricky final hour.
The defiant Basil survived but regular opener Krishna Prasad didn’t. Krishna Prasad’s (four) expansive drive was snapped up by Aneesh in the slips off V. Vyshak. Kaverappa castled M.D. Nidheesh (0) and bounced out Vaishak Chandran (0). However, Akshay Chandran and Basil played out the final two overs to deny any further success to the visitor.
Earlier, overnight batters Karun and Smaran smothered the Kerala attack in the opening hour with some luck and pluck. Smaran was dropped in the slips by Akshay off Nidheesh when the batter was on 98 and he made Kerala pay for the let off.
Karun celebrate his double century.
| Photo Credit:
NIRMAL HARINDRAN
Karun too was beaten a few times by the nippy Nidheesh but he survived the testing period and opened up when the spinners were in operation. Paddle sweeps, reverse sweeps and spanking drives flowed from Karun’s bat as he motored his way to his double century.
Karan fell trying to increase the scoring rate.
Smaran played the waiting game and punished the loose balls to move steadily to his double hundred which he crossed in style with a six over midwicket off Vaiskah.
The scores: Karnataka — 1st innings: K.V. Aneesh c Azharuddeen b Basil 8, Mayank Agarawal c Azharuddeen b Nidheesh 5, K.L. Shrijith c Imran b Aparajith 65, Karun Nair c Shoun b Basil 233, R. Smaran (not out) 220, Abhinav Manohar lbw Vaisakh 20, Shreyas Gopal (not out) 16. Extras (b-8, lb-7, nb-3, w-1): 19; Total (for five wkts. decl. in 167 overs): 586.
Fall of wickets: 1-11, 2-13, 3-136, 4-479, 5-534.
Kerala bowling: Nidheesh 25-7-65-1, Vaisakh 21-1-103-1, Basil 32-3-101-2, Harikrishnan 25-1-114-0, Aparajith 44-5-121-1, Akshay 20-0-67-0.
Kerala — 1st innings: Krishna Prasad c Aneesh b Vyshak 4, Basil (batting) 11, M.D. Nidheesh b Kaverappa 0, Visakh Chandan c (sub) Nikin bt Kaverappa 0, Akshay Chandran (batting) 6; Total (for three wkts. in 10 overs): 21.
Fall of wickets: 1-9, 2-10, 3-14.
Karnataka bowling: Kaverappa 5-2-7-2, Vyshak 5-2-14-1.
Published – November 02, 2025 07:12 pm IST
