Karnataka’s dominance continued on day three of the Col. C. K. Nayudu (U-23) Trophy final against Uttar Pradesh at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. The hosts extended their lead to a mammoth 663 runs, leaving UP with an almost insurmountable task in the remaining three sessions.
Karnataka resumed the day at 91 for no loss and continued to pile on the runs. MacNeil H. Noronha (79) and Prakar Chaturvedi (86) provided a solid foundation, putting on 144 runs for the first wicket. Chaturvedi’s dismissal brought K.V. Aneesh to the crease, and the right-hander played a magnificent innings.
Aneesh, batting at one-drop, anchored the Karnataka innings with a brilliant 171 not out. His knock included 18 fours and three sixes, showcasing his all-around strokeplay. He shared a crucial 120-run partnership with skipper R. Smaran (40), who was dismissed by Aaqib Khan.
After Smaran’s departure, Aneeshwar Gautam was run out for 15, but Yashovardhan Parantap (34) and Kruthik Krishna (34 not out) provided valuable support to Aneesh. The Karnataka batsmen remained patient and disciplined, accumulating runs steadily throughout the day.
Uttar Pradesh’s bowlers toiled hard but failed to make significant inroads. Shubham Mishra, Aaqib Khan, and Kunal Tyagi picked up wickets, but Aneesh’s unwavering presence at the crease proved too much for the visitors.
At stumps, Karnataka had reached 444 for five in 121 overs, with Aneesh and Krishna still at the crease. UP now faces an uphill battle to save the match, as they need to score over 600 runs in the remaining time.
