Ranji Trophy: Harpreet holds the fort for Madhya Pradesh against Karnataka on day one

Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh evenly poised after day one of Ranji Trophy Elite Group-C opener.

It was even-stevens at stumps on day one of Karnataka’s Ranji Trophy Elite Group-C opener against Madhya Pradesh at the Holkar Stadium here on Friday.

On a largely overcast but humid day, the hosts, after being asked to bat first, reached 232 for four from 83 overs. Harpreet Singh Bhatia’s unbeaten 75 (164b, 8x4) was the highlight, but the inability of the other batters, including Rajat Patidar (31, 61b, 3x4), to build on starts ensured that Karnataka — which handed batter R. Smaran a debut — was very much in the game.

Captain Shubham Sharma (40, 88b, 2x4) was also stretchered off because of a muscle pull in his leg, but the middle-order bat is expected to take the field again.

Overnight rain meant there was some help on offer for the bowlers, and speedster Prasidh Krishna, in his first Ranji game since January, struck immediately, trapping Himanshu Mantri (0) in front in the second over of the day.

But the downpour also rendered the outfield slightly soggy, which seemingly played on the Karnataka fielders’ minds, for they were hesitant in going for many a ball.

Even Manish Pandey, a fine fielder with an economy of movement, clutched his knee, went down and hobbled off in one instance when the ball was nowhere close to him.

Skipper Mayank Agarwal, however, impressed with a couple of diving saves and his energy was only matched by an intruder who ran in to click a selfie with Patidar but had to be content with a handshake after the on-field umpire’s intervention.