Karnataka crush Tamil Nadu to retain Ranji Trophy

Riding on Karun Nair's triple hundred and a magnificent all-round performance from captain R Vinay Kumar, Karnataka crushed Tamil Nadu by an innings and 217 runs to successfully defend their Ranji Trophy title, in Mumbai, on Thursday.

- Scorecard

In their second innings, Tamil Nadu finished on for 411 for nine with centuries from Dinesh Karthik and Vijay Shankar as lastman Prasanth Parameswaran was unable to bat because of injury, on the fifth and final day at the Wankhede stadium.

Karthik played an entertaining innings of 120 from 112 balls, while Shankar made 103 as TN put in a better effort with the bat in their second innings as compared to the first when they were bowled out for a paltry 134.

Karnataka had piled up a massive total of 762 in their first innings with Nair hitting 328, his maiden triple ton and the highest individual score in the final of the Ranji Trophy. The injured KL Rahul, who retired hurt before coming back to bat later on, stroked a fluent 188 as the duo putting on a mammoth six-wicket stand of 386 runs to rally their team, after they were reduced to 84 for five at one stage.

Vinay showed his pedigree with the bat as he made a patient 105 not out to follow up on the five for 34 he took in the first innings, while also claiming two more wickets in the second innings.

This is Karnataka's eighth Ranji Trophy title and they are now second in the list behind Mumbai, who have won the title 40 times.

Trailing by a huge first innings lead of 628, Tamil Nadu were shot out for 411 in 107.5 overs in the final session of the fifth day's play.

Leg-spinner Shreyas Gopal wrecked Tamil Nadu as he claimed four for 126.

After their failure with the bat in the first innings, Tamil Nadu fared better in the second as wicketkeeper-batsman Karthik notched up his 23rd first class century, hitting 21 fours and a six in his 112-ball knock, while Shankar made 103.
     
Earlier, overnight batsman Baba Aparajith (68) and Shankar started off well and looked poised to bat for a long time before Tamil Nadu lost the former in the 21st over of the day thanks to a brilliant catch from wicketkeeper Robin Uthappa behind the stumps.

The 20-year old forged a 112-run stand with Shankar for the fourth wicket. His departure brought Karthik to the crease, who set an aggressive tone to the Tamil Nadu innings as he cut loose after a cautious start.

Karthik, who hadn't scored a single run in the first 20 balls he faced, broke the shackles with a flurry of boundaries.

The 29-year old had just three singles to his credit when he notched up his half-century. His run-a-ball 53 comprised 11 fours and a six.

The seasoned cricketer, who missed out in the first innings due to a poor umpiring decision, struck three boundaries in the 68th over off Sharath.

Shankar, despite playing the second fiddle, struck a few shots of his own to usher his century.

The 24-year old, who had shared a century stand with Aparajith for the fourth wicket, combined with Karthik to add 115 runs for the fifth wicket.

With Tamil Nadu proceeding, well, Karnataka took the new ball in the 81st over which resulted in the much-needed breakthrough for the champions.

Shankar top edged the pull shot offering a simple return catch to bowler Vinay. His dismissal saw the floodgates as Tamil Nadu kept losing wickets at regular intervals.

R Prasanna (8) too didn't last much as he was caught at second slip off H S Sharath in the 88th over to reach 378 for six at the tea break.

Tamil Nadu suffered further when Karthik was dismissed in the second over of the post-tea session, which also ended their hopes of avoid an innings defeat or holding on for an unlikely draw.

Karthik got a lifeline when he was caught behind off no-ball by Sreenath Aravind in the 91st over but he failed to make most the opportunity. A few overs later, he attempted the inside-out shot against Gopal but was caught in the deep.

Gopal then got Aswin Crist stumped courtesy of some sharp glovework by Uthappa before Malolan Rangarajan was caught in the slips off Aravind for 33. Prasanth Parameswaran, who was injured on the third day while fielding, did not come into bat.