Ranji Trophy: Karnataka escape with a draw

Tamil Nadu needed 355 runs to win at the start of their second innings against Karnataka in their crucial Ranji Trophy Group C tie at the MA Chidambaram stadium.

At the start of the fourth day on Monday, they were 319 runs behind after having ticked off 36 runs the evening prior.

At lunch, they got to 150 for 3, meaning they needed 205 runs to win with seven wickets in hand and with two sessions left. At tea, they needed 143 runs to win with five wickets in hand and in 28 overs.

By the start of the mandatory period, they needed 97 runs in 15 overs. A panic-stricken Mayank Agarwal called for a meeting of the seniors at this point. They huddled about trying to figure out what to do and even got some input from the dressing room during the drinks break.

Shashi Kumar K and Hardik Raj had bowled well enough for the Karnataka skipper to ignore the new ball for over ten overs already. But, something had to change because at this point Baba Indrajith had shed the pick-up-singles-and-twos avatar and was eyeing boundaries. Vijay Shankar was beginning to grow in confidence too, especially after belting off-spinner Shashi Kumar for a six over midwicket.