Karnataka 110-2 (Agarwal 54*, Rahul 28) trail Mumbai 120 (Herwadkar 60, Gopal 3-4, Prasidh 3-21, Kaverappa 3-38) by 10 runs
Andhra 264-6 (Bhui 83, Bharat 47, Mukesh 3-50, Akash Deep 2-64) v Bengal
“On a surface like this you’re never out of the game,” Prasidh Krishna remarked as he walked off at tea. The new-ball spell that backed up those words had already done heavy damage, and by stumps Karnataka sat comfortably in front of Mumbai at the BKC.
Morning: Mumbai rolled for 120
Shardul Thakur chose to bat on red soil, expecting true bounce. What arrived instead was sharp movement, perfect for Vidwath Kaverappa and Prasidh. The start was hectic: Yashasvi Jaiswal edged Vidyadhar Patil in the fourth over; Musheer Khan and Siddhesh Lad followed in quick succession. “We just kept hitting that six-metre length,” Kaverappa explained, “nothing complicated.”
A brief stand of 31 between Akhil Herwadkar and Suryansh Shedge threatened to settle nerves until Prasidh nicked Shedge off and, two balls later, removed Akash Anand and Shams Mulani to sit on a hat-trick. Thakur survived that ball but lofted Kaverappa to mid-off soon after.
Herwadkar stayed busy, reaching a measured fifty, yet once Shreyas Gopal switched ends the innings collapsed. The leg-spinner’s 3-4 wrapped up the tail, trapping Herwadkar lbw for 60 and leaving Mumbai all out before lunch.
Afternoon: Karnataka reply briskly
KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal countered with nine boundaries in eight overs, Rahul cutting Mohit Avasthi straight to point on 28 but setting a tempo that Agarwal maintained. “We wanted to knock ten runs off the deficit before looking up,” Agarwal said; he will resume on 54 not out after seeing Devdutt Padikkal drag on late in the day. Karnataka are 110-2, only ten behind with eight wickets in hand.
Kalyani: Bengal strike late
Over in Kalyani, Andhra’s solid top order effort wobbled close to stumps, giving Bengal a lift they badly required. Ricky Bhui, fluent for 83, top-edged Akash Deep attempting to withdraw his bat—a distraction behind the bowler’s arm, he argued. Umpires stood firm. Three balls later Nitish Kumar Reddy pulled Mukesh Kumar to fine leg and suddenly Andhra were 264-6.
Earlier, KS Bharat (47 off 57) attacked the new ball, dominating a 58-run opening stand with Abhishek Reddy. Bharat fell hooking Mukesh; Shaik Rasheed’s measured 46 ended the same way. “We felt one partnership would tilt it,” Mukesh noted after picking up 3-50.
Balance of play
Both quarter-finals remain open, yet the momentum belongs to the sides with the ball in hand. Karnataka’s seamers exploited early help and now have batting depth to press home advantage. Bengal, short of runs all season, know one good morning with the second new ball could leave them chasing something modest. As Akash Deep put it, “First hour tomorrow decides plenty.”
