Ranji Trophy: Karnataka enters final as match meanders to a draw

Karnataka secures a Ranji Trophy final spot as their semifinal against Uttarakhand concludes in a draw.

For a brief while around tea break on the final day of the Ranji Trophy semifinal at the Ekana Cricket Stadium here, Karnataka players resembled a pack of moody school children who were denied their favourite toy.

Uttarakhand was 184 for six in pursuit of 827, an impossible target Karnataka had set in the morning. The latter, having secured the first-innings lead, was in no need of an outright win.

A handshake was initiated and out came the presentation flex boards, only for the umpires to turn into strict parents and not call off play.

The officials reckoned that Karnataka could force a victory, an act the eight-time champion was least interested in. This attitude showed in how player after player, both young and the experienced, had multiple exchanges with the on-field custodians.

It was only after 14 overs of action — rather inaction — in the final session that Karnataka’s passage to the summit clash against Jammu & Kashmir was confirmed.

For Uttarakhand, three batters scored second-innings half-centuries — Avneesh Sudha (66, 71b, 10x4), Saurabh Rawat (53 n.o., 114b, 4x4, 2x6) and Abhay Negi (57 n.o., 66b, 5x4, 3x6).