Middle-order batsman Manish Pandey's fine century could go in vain, as hosts Saurashtra took the vital first innings lead against Karnataka on the third day of the Ranji Trophy quarter-final in Rajkot, on Tuesday.
Saurashtra, dismissed for 469 in the first innings, took a crucial 73-run lead after restricting Karnataka to 396, on the third day of the five-day encounter.
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Overnight batsmen Robin Uthappa and K L Rahul started on a positive note on Tuesday morning, adding another 50 runs before left-arm seamer Jaydev Unadkat dismissed the aggressive Uthappa, who scored 60 off 66 balls, including 11 fours.
Off-spinner Kamlesh Makwana then struck twice, dismissing K R Kapoor (2) and the in-form C Gautam (5) to reduce the visitors to 112 for three.
However, Pandey then took over and scored a fine 177.
But that was not enough for Karnataka to overhaul Saurashtra's first innings total.
Pandey's 177 came off 228 balls, which included 15 fours and three sixes. He was at the crease for 312 minutes and last to be dismissed in Karnataka's first innings.
For Saurashtra, the spin trio of Vishal Joshi, Dharmendra Jadeja and Kamlesh Makawana scalped three wickets each.
Brief scores:
Saurashtra: 469 all out in 165.3 overs
Karnataka: 396 all out in 102.2 overs (Manish Pandey 177, Robin Uthappa 60, K L Rahul 55, Kamlesh Makwana 3-91, Vishal Joshi 3-103 and Dharmendra Jadeja 3-122.)
