With lead ensured, Karnataka eye win

Bengaluru: Skipper Mayank Agarwal turned the clock back with a sizzling century to give Karnataka's weather-battered Ranji Trophy campaign a fillip against Bihar in their Elite Group C campaign in Patna on Monday.

After Sunday's play was called off due to wet outfield at an ill-equipped Moin Ul Haq Stadium and the entire first session on Monday was wiped out because of the same reason, the only way Karnataka could get maximum points was to go for quick runs on the penultimate day. 

And Agarwal, forced to bat at No. 3 for staying off the field during Bihar's first innings, led from the front with a 131-ball 105 while his deputy Manish Pandey, whose position has been questioned following inconsistent performances over the last couple of seasons, hit 56 off 55 as Karnataka took stumps at 287/7 in 51 overs.

Although Karnataka kept losing wickets at regular intervals, especially during the second half of their innings, owing to their high-risk strategy, the gamble paid off as they now lead by 144 runs with leg-spinning all-rounder Shreyas Gopal still at the crease.

Shreyas, who returned home following a stint with Kerala last season, will now be looking to carry forward the game plan on Tuesday. Considering the poor drainage facilities and the threat of rain, the onus will be on Shreyas to get some quick runs and then try bowling out Bihar for an innings win.

A win is a must for Karnataka considering they were forced to share a point each in their opening two encounters versus Madhya Pradesh and Kerala owing to rain and wet outfield. 

Karnataka bowled out bottom-placed Bihar for 143 in the first innings with Shreyas and his young spinning colleague sharing seven wickets. Agarwal will be hoping his bowlers can cause the same damage on the all-important final day.