Karnataka 635 for 9 decl (Pandey 200*, Verma 173, Satish 83, Chavan 3-115) and 147 for 3 (Pawan 57, Satish 56) drew with Mumbai 441 (Nayar 191*, Rohit 64, Vinay 4-104)
Karnataka embarrassed Mumbai on their home turf by snatching three points with a 194-run first-innings lead. The outcome was expected considering Mumbai had only two wickets in hand when they resumed their pursuit of Karnataka's massive total today. Though Abhishek Nayar returned to the crease, having retired the previous afternoon due to cramps, and scored some quick runs, it was too large a target for Mumbai, who had to be content with a solitary point.
R Vinay Kumar, the Karnataka captain, nipped a delivery back into Onkar Gurav in the third over the morning to peg back the Mumbai wicketkeeper's off stump. Though Nayar and Ankeet Chavan played aggressively, scoring mostly in fours, it was just a matter of time before Karnataka would strike. And so when Ganesh Satish, the part-time left-arm spinner lobbed a full toss, Chavan played early, straight into the hands of Manish Pandey at short cover. Chavan hung his head in disbelief. Nayar, nine runs short of what would've been second double century in successive matches, walked back, annoyed shaking his head.
The rest of match was of little interest as both teams played out the mandatory time before mutually deciding to call off the match half hour into the final session.
It could have been a much more entertaining final two sessions had Karnataka opted to make better use of the remaining 65 overs, including the mandatory ones, once Mumbai had folded.
They could have batted for about 15 overs, setting a target of 275 from the remaining 50 overs, which could have been a tempting proposition for Mumbai's strokeplayers. Of course, the visitors would have thought twice bowling a second time on a pitch which had even bounce but no movement and hardly any support to the bowlers.
Karnataka are now atop Group A with 12 points while Mumbai are in the second spot on ten points. The tournament now takes a eight-day break before resuming for the fourth round matches.
