Wicket-keeper batsman KL Rahul scored his second consecutive century and combined with captain Devdutt Padikkal in a remarkable 296-run partnership, with Padikkal unbeaten at 148, as Karnataka reached 355/2 at the end of Day 1 in the Ranji Trophy semifinal against Uttarakhand at the Ekana Stadium. Despite a shaky start after losing the toss, Karnataka’s Mayank Agarwal fell early for 18 runs. However, Rahul and Padikkal steadied the ship with a solid partnership.
The duo showcased excellent teamwork, rotating the strike effectively and handling the spin threat, guiding Karnataka to 133/1 by the first session’s close, with both batsmen completing their half-centuries. The second session was dominated by Karnataka, with no wickets lost and both players reaching centuries. Rahul achieved his 25th first-class hundred off 153 balls, maintaining his stellar form from the previous quarter-final match, while Padikkal reached his century off just 144 balls in the 55th over.
Uttarakhand managed to break through in the third session, dismissing Rahul for 141 runs in the 75th over, featuring 11 fours and five sixes. Following Rahul’s departure, Padikkal partnered with Karun Nair, who contributed an unbeaten 37 off 65 balls by the day’s end, as Karnataka surpassed the 350-run mark. Aditya Rawat was the sole wicket-taker for Uttarakhand in the day’s play.
