Mayank’s delightful double ton takes Karnataka to a position of supremacy

Skipper dominates the last two partnerships as the host goes past the 400-mark; Kaverappa’s fiery spell prises out two Saurashtra batters

An imperious double ton by Mayank Agarwal put Karnataka firmly in control of the Ranji Trophy semifinal against Saurashtra at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium here on Thursday.

From an overnight 110, the skipper finished on 249 (429b, 28x4, 5x6) to take the hosts’ total to 407. If he had not been the last man to be dismissed — run out by Sheldon Jackson — he would have become only the second Karnataka opener to have carried his bat in the competition after K.L. Rahul (vs. Uttar Pradesh, 2013/14).

Where on day one he largely played within himself, trusting his defence and interspersing the knock with a few delectable hits to the fence, on day two he was at his expansive best. The conditions weren’t quite dissimilar from Wednesday as the ball swung and seamed. Karnataka also lost three quick wickets in the morning and was reduced to 278 for eight.

Mayank farmed the strike in expert fashion, and yet did not climb down from the higher gear he had shifted into.

In the morning session, he faced 100 balls, but collected 75 runs. There were as many as four beautifully driven boundaries on the off-side, a glorious short-arm pull and a majestic on-drive that he executed even as he walked down the pitch.

Pace and spin were treated with equal disdain. Pacer Prerak Mankad was flat-batted for a six and then deposited over long-off while left-arm spinner Dharmendrasinh Jadeja was sent soaring over the straight boundary. This was vintage Mayank, radiating star quality, but he also oozed responsibility. Of the 129 runs the last two partnerships fetched, he accounted for 113.

The 31-year-old eventually fell attempting a second run that would have given him his 250. But by then, Karnataka was clearly in the ascendency. Tail-ender Vidwath Kaverappa, who had stuck around admirably with Mayank for 42 deliveries, burst back on to the field to come up with a fiery display of his primary skill.