Hubli, February 26: Jammu and Kashmir maintained their stranglehold on the Ranji Trophy Elite 2025-26 final against Karnataka at the KSCA Hubli Cricket Ground, but a gritty century from Mayank Agarwal provided a lifeline for the hosts on day three.
After piling up a mammoth 584 in their first innings, J&K reduced Karnataka to 220 for five in 69 overs, still trailing by 364 runs at stumps. Mayank, unbeaten on 130 from 17 boundaries, anchored the innings with crucial partnerships, first rescuing the top order and then pushing the score past 200 alongside Kirthik Krishna, who was 27 not out.
Karnataka’s day began promisingly with KL Rahul and Mayank adding 27 runs for the first wicket. Rahul fell for 13 off 39 balls, caught behind off Aquib Nabi Dar. Devdutt Padikkal joined Mayank, but the innings unravelled quickly. Padikkal managed 11 before edging to slips, followed by Karun Nair and Smanan Ravichandran both out for ducks in the 18th over. At 57 for four, Karnataka were in dire straits.
Enter Shreyas Gopal, who stitched a vital 105-run stand for the fifth wicket with Mayank, hauling the score to 162. Gopal departed for 27, but Mayank’s resolve shone through as he and Krishna added an unbroken 58 to steady the ship.
J&K’s bowlers struck early blows, with Aquib Nabi Dar claiming three for 32 in 14 overs. Sunil Kumar and Yudhvir Singh Charak picked up one wicket each, keeping the pressure on.
Earlier, J&K’s first innings was powered by Shubham Pundir’s 121 and Yawar Hassan’s 88 in a 139-run second-wicket alliance. Abdul Samad (61), captain Paras Dogra (70), and Sahil Lotra (72) ensured a commanding total. Karnataka’s Prassid Krishna toiled with five for 98, supported by single wickets from Vidyadhar Patil, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Shreyas Gopal, and Shikhar Shetty.
With Mayank at the crease, Karnataka live to fight another day, but J&K’s lead looms large as the final hurtles towards a decisive phase.