Cricket News

The end, when it came, was tame and all too familiar, as Karnataka batted out the final day to take home a draw, and with it a place in the semifinals of the Ranji Trophy

Amidst all the excitement that swamped the Madhavrao Scindia Stadium in Rajkot over the selection of the Indian team the Ranji Trophy match between Karnataka and Saurashtra was reduced to a mere sideshow

Karnataka stole a march towards a semifinal spot in the Ranji Trophy, posting a massive 570, but Saurashtra's openers showed they were no pushovers, posting a rousing unbeaten century stand in response

India have not had a left-arm spinner to play consistently since Venkatapathi Raju played the part but people like Raghuram Bhat are certainly searching hard.

Rahul Dravid, the cynosure of all eyes, helped himself to a typically even-paced fifty and Karnataka ended the first day on 329 for 4.