Karnataka concede a lead of 32 runs to Maharashtra, but fight on

Maharashtra took a surprising first innings lead after bowling out defending champions Karnataka for 180 on day two of the Ranji Trophy Group A match. Medium pacers Anupam Sanklecha, Shrikant Mundhe and Nikit Dhumal ran through the Karnataka batting with the innings ending in 67.4 overs.

Maharashtra, who had made 212 in their first attempt, were 70 for four in their second innings and 102 ahead of the visitors, setting up an exciting end to the game. Karnataka captain R Vinay Kumar and fellow medium pacer Sreenath Aravind struck twice to get their team back into the contest.

Karnataka are fourth in the standings on 24 points, Delhi ended the league round with 25 points from eight games. Bengal, Assam are also on 25 points, and are playing each other in the final round. This means the defending champions need at least one point and have to keep their NRR (Net Run Rate) above Delhi's to go through. A first-innings lead could have handed the Southern team a point.