Nabi takes Jammu and Kashmir in command as Karnataka struggles in Ranji Trophy final

Aqib Nabi starred with the ball as Jammu and Kashmir gained the upper hand against Karnataka in the Ranji Trophy final. Despite Mayank Agarwal’s century, J&K lead by 364 runs on the third day, keeping victory within reach

Hubballi: India’s latest pace sensation Aqib Nabi rocked Karnataka’s star-studded top order with a sensational opening spell as Jammu and Kashmir took a vice-like grip on the Ranji Trophy final despite Mayank Agarwal’s defiant hundred here on Thursday.

At stumps on the third day, eight-time champions Karnataka were placed at 220 for five, trailing the visitors by 364 runs, with Agarwal batting on 130 in the company of wicketkeeper Kruthik Krishna (27).

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Nabi ended the day with impressive figures of 3/32 in 14 overs.

This was after Jammu and Kashmir, riding on Shubham Pundir’s 121 in a collective batting effort, posted a mammoth first-innings total of 584 in their maiden Ranji final. Nabi then took centre stage.

Jammu and Kashmir were in the box seat once they put up a huge first-innings total, and Nabi left the Karnataka batters searching for answers.

The 28-year-old Nabi, who dominated the season with over 55 wickets in nine games going into the summit showdown, including a 12-wicket match haul (7/40 and 5/70) against Madhya Pradesh in the quarter-final, got the ball to move away and nip back while also dishing out the occasional yorker at good pace.

Staking a claim for a place in the Indian team, Nabi landed the first big blow on Karnataka when he dismissed KL Rahul with a peach of a delivery.

Nabi squared up India Test star Rahul completely with late movement as the ball kissed the edge of the bat on its way to wicketkeeper Kanhaiya Wadhawan, whose loud appeal prompted skipper Paras Dogra to opt for a review after on-field umpire Rohan Pandit decided against raising his finger.

TV replays confirmed the edge, and Dogra was vindicated in going upstairs at the insistence of his keeper and bowler, resulting in a massive moment in the game just three minutes before lunch.

Pumped up, Nabi grabbed two more wickets off successive balls in the second session to put his team on top. But before Nabi’s double blow, left-arm seamer Sunil Kumar got the better of Karnataka captain Devdutt Padikkal.

Padikkal did not show great footwork as Kumar’s back-of-a-length delivery that moved slightly induced an edge for Abdul Samad to complete a fine catch in the slip cordon.

Unfazed by the loss of two big wickets, the seasoned Agarwal at the other end meant business as he went about his task in a thoroughly professional manner, finding the boundaries with some classic strokes.

Even as Agarwal stood firm, the home team lost two more wickets to the brilliant Nabi. He first cleaned up Karun Nair with another unplayable delivery that hit the off stump after moving away on pitching, leaving the in-form batter clueless.

In walked Ravichandran Smaran, who averages 75 in First-Class cricket, but the middle-order batter’s rich form and impressive record did not matter to Nabi, who sent him packing for a golden duck with a back-of-a-length ball that straightened a bit after pitching.

Smaran was unsure whether to play or leave it, but the ball took the outside edge and went through to the keeper to leave Karnataka tottering at 57 for four in 18 overs.

Shreyas Gopal survived the hat-trick ball that hit him on the pad after swinging in sharply.

Gopal and Agarwal then steadied the ship with a partnership of 105 runs for the fifth wicket, though J&K still had their nose ahead heading into the fourth and penultimate day’s play.

Agarwal, who got a life on 124, then found an able ally in Krishna and added 58 runs for an unbroken sixth wicket.

Earlier, Pundir’s hundred and half-centuries from Yawer Hassan (88), captain Dogra (70), Abdul Samad (61), Wadhawan (70), and Sahil Lotra (72) powered Jammu and Kashmir to a mammoth first-innings total.

Prasidh Krishna was the most successful bowler for Karnataka, returning figures of 5/98 in 34.1 overs after toiling for more than two full days.

J&K resumed the third day’s play at 527 for six with Lotra and Abid Mushtaq at the crease.