Shivamogga:Karnataka secured three points inside the first hour of the final day of their Ranji Trophy League match against Goa on Tuesday, but the question of whether they could force a win loomed until Goa’s batting resistance and lack of time provided the answer. Asked to continue, opener Manthan Khutkar (55no) and Abhinav Tejrana (73) finally found their bearings as Goa fended off the home side’s onslaught. They took Goa to 143/1 in 46 overs as the teams opted to shake hands in the final over. Karnataka’s pacers had their work cut out for them in the first session and were quick to use timely help from the surface to bowl out Goa for 217 in 87.2 overs – just four runs short of a follow-on. In Goa’s second innings, Vyshak Vijaykumar then raised hopes of an outright victory when he trapped Suyash Prabhudessai (13) in front, but the cheers and enthusiasm slowly faded as they hit the Goan wall. Rain also hampered play, eating lunch for the first 15 minutes and then forcing an early tea break. By then, Karnataka looked resigned to taking three points from the match. In terms of batting, the biggest points Karnataka took away from the competition were the form of Karun Nair (174no) and the all-rounder Shreyas Gopal (57). While the return of Vyshak Vijaykumar and Vidwath Kaverappa has boosted the pace of the attack, both are yet to play at full capacity. However, Kaverappa’s bowling was the highlight of the first session at the KSCA Navule Stadium on Tuesday. In overcast conditions he came up with a fine exhibition of swing and precision supported by an excellent line. Resuming from 171/6, Goa needed 201 to overtake Karnataka’s first innings score. Kaverappa struck in the second over, prompting a nick from Arjun Tendulkar (47). Mohit Redkar (53) attacked and even smashed three maximums – two against Kaverappa. But in the end, he bowled a short ball from the Kodava bowler to the keeper KL Shrijith. Samar Dubhashi then chased down a wide delivery and credited it to R. Smaran at third slip to complete Kaverappa’s five-wicket haul, his first since February 2024. It wasn’t long before Vyshak dispatched the stump of his former teammate V Koushik to signal the end of Goa’s first innings. Kaverappa is sure to take confidence from this performance, especially as he suffered a lengthy injury lay-off last season and featured in just one Ranji Trophy match. It will also boost his team’s morale. It was the 26-year-old’s first red-ball game in nearly nine months and he admitted he was about 80% of his potential. “I wasn’t at my best,” Kaverappa said. “I felt a bit rusty at the start, coming back from a long layoff. But it was good to contribute to the team and get at least three points on the table.” Karnataka travel to Thiruvananthapuram next to take to Kerala.SELECTION TABLEKarnataka (1st Innings): 371Goa (I shift; o/n 171/6): Arjun Tendulkar c Shrijith b Kaverappa 47, Mohit Redkar c Shrijith b Kaverappa 53, Samar Dubhashi c Smaran b Kaverappa 6, V. Koushik b Vyshak 5, Vijesh Prabhudesai (not out) 1. Extras (NB-1, B-3, LB-4, NB-5): 9. Total (all out; in 87.2 overs): 217 Fall of wickets: 7-185, 8-212, 9-213. Bowling: Vidwath Kaverappa 23-6-51-5, Abhilash Shetty 22-3-74-3, Yashovardhan Parantap 16-6-18-1, Vyshak Vijaykumar 18.2-2-53-1, Shreyas Gopal 8-2-13-0.Goa (Innings II): Manthan Khutkar (not out) 55, Suyash Prabhudessai lbw Vyshak 13, Abhinav Tejrana (not out) 73. Extra (LB-2): 2. Total (1 week; 46 overs): 143. Goal Fall: 1-20. Bowling: Kaverappa 8-2-12-0, Vyshak 8-1-33-1, Abhilash 7-1-20-0, Yashovardhan 7-2-20-0, Shreyas 9-1-28-0, Nikin Jose 7-0-28-0.
