Ranji Trophy 2024-25: Karnataka vs Bengal, Round 4, Day 3 Review

After a fantastic display of cricket from both the teams at the end of Day 2 of Round 4 Ranji Trophy 2024-25 game between Karnataka and Bengal, the Bengal side who were bowling would have ideally wanted to turn up fresh for Day 3 and pick up a few early wickets to keep the Karnataka batters in check.

On the other hand, after collapsing initially with bat and recovering at the end of the Day Karnataka ended Day 2 on 155/5 after Abhinav Manohar's resilient fifties with Shreyas Gopal whom they built a perfect unbeaten partnership proving to be the perfect foil for Dashing batter Abhinav Manohar, it was to be seen how both of them would fare on the third day.

Bengal pacers bowled beautifully, and they tasted early success in the fourth over of the morning when they took the wicket of Shreyas Gopal 28(63) and broke the fantastic partnership which was built on. The first-morning session belonged to Bengal as their pacers took quick wickets and bundled out Karnataka for just 221 in 82.1 overs. Karnataka was only able to add 66 runs for their overnight score. Ishan Porel 4/54 (23.1) who bowled beautifully yesterday continued his rhythm and took three wickets on Day 3 and was the pick of the bowlers. Suraj Sindhu Jaiswal 3/65 (25.2) and Rishav Vivek 2/46 (16.4) gave excellent support to Ishan Porel.

Also Read: Ranji Trophy 2024-25: Shreyas Iyer smashes third first-class double hundred

In the second session, Bengal came to bat in the second Innings played cautiously early and then started to capitalize on it. Shuvam Dey 30(72) opened with Sudip Chatterjee 48(85) playing superbly as they stitch an opening partnership of 69. After losing Shuvam Dey, Sudip Kumar Gharami 25*(72) made sure there were no more losses of wickets in the second session. Bengal were 95/1(31) after the end of the second session.

In the third and final session, Karnataka made an excellent comeback in the game as their pacers bowled beautifully. Karnataka took the wicket of  Sudip Chatterjee for the same score in the very first over of the third over. Vidyadhar Patil got the better of Bengal Skipper Anustup Majumdar 5(10) who was in magnificent form who already scored a hundred in the first Innings. But Bengal star all-rounder Shahbaz Ahmed 12*(27) and Sudip Kumar Gharami played cautiously. These two made sure that there were no more collapses as Karnataka finished 127/3 in 44 overs at the end of Day 3. Bengal are leading by 207 Runs after Day 3. Both Shahbaz Ahmed and Sudip Kumar Gharami are the batters at the crease who will resume their batting on the Final Day.

Abhilash Shetty, Vasuki Koushik and Vidyadhar Patil scalped one wicket apiece. The Bengals are in a comfortable position in the game and they are looking for victory and clutch 6 points on the final day whereas Karnataka is way far behind in the game and fighting hard to draw the game or get a result out of it. The day belonged to the Bengal Star Pacer Ishan Porel who took 4 wickets in the First Innings and was the pick of the bowlers from Bengal.