Ranji Trophy | Rahul and Padikkal feast on Uttarakhand bowlers, hit centuries

Batting archetypal is progressively seen arsenic the archetypal measurement into a dystopian world. So comfy are teams chasing a known people – particularly successful limited-overs cricket – that sides wield the willow archetypal lone to “challenge” themselves.

One wonders if Uttarakhand was reasoning connected these lines erstwhile it chose to tract connected the archetypal greeting of the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy semifinal against Karnataka astatine the Ekana Cricket Stadium connected Sunday. It was, admittedly, a red-ball game, but it is besides a format wherever the first-innings pb matters.

But by stumps, Kunal Chandela & Co. were ruing that determination arsenic Karnataka rode connected K.L. Rahul’s 25th First Class ton (141, 211b, 11x4, 5x6) and skipper Devdutt Padikkal’s ninth (148 batting, 236b, 16x4, 2x6) to rack up 355 for two.

First-time semifinalist Uttarakhand volition present beryllium hoping that erstwhile it yet bats, the transportation stays arsenic existent arsenic it did connected time one.

There was the unusual shot that bounced disconcertingly and determination were a fewer that seamed, but nary excessively dangerous. And Rahul and Padikkal feasted, putting connected a expansive 278-run concern aft Mayank Agarwal was caught aboriginal successful the slips.

Rahul was reprieved connected 47 erstwhile wicketkeeper Saurabh Rawat missed a stumping disconnected an limb shot from Mayank Mishra (18-1-88-0), and survived a half-chance connected 136 erstwhile the cherry fell abbreviated of the gaffe fielder. But for those moments, and until a starring borderline led to his downfall, his enactment was chanceless.

The 33-year-old drove beautifully, pulled efficiently and danced down the way successful a sure-footed manner. The half-century came successful 86 balls erstwhile helium chopped pacer Aditya Rawat to the constituent boundary. The 100 was raised successful 153 deliveries, and it was the archetypal clip helium had scored back-to-back tons successful 207 vocation First Class innings; the match-winning 130 against Mumbai had sealed it a last-four spot.

Padikkal was nary little enthralling. He started disconnected with 2 good cuts disconnected Aditya earlier peppering everything different portion of the ground. The half-ton came disconnected conscionable 65 balls and the period milestone was passed with a one-handed six – 2 definitive signs of the day’s ease.

The scores:

Karnataka — 1st innings: K.L. Rahul c & b Aditya 141, Mayank Agarwal c Prashant b Aditya 5, Devdutt Padikkal (batting) 148, Karun Nair (batting) 37; Extras (b-9, lb-5, nb-4, w-6): 24; Total (for 2 wkts. successful 90 overs): 355.

Fall of wickets: 1-18, 2-296.

Uttarakhand bowling: Abhay 17-2-55-0, Janmejay 18-3-44-0, Aditya 14-2-73-2, Mayank 18-1-88-0, J. Suchith 10-0-43-0, Avneesh 13-0-38-0.

Toss: Uttarakhand.