Hosts Karnataka gained upper hand over Goa on the third day of the ongoing 4-day Ranji Trophy  cricket match being held at SDNR Wadiyar stadium in Manasagangothri campus, here this morning.

Karnataka were well placed at 396/4 at Lunch in reply to Goa’s first innings score of 321, thus taking a 65 runs lead, with six wickets still in hand.

Resuming at their overnight score of 251/4, hosts Karnataka did not lose a wicket till lunch, with overnight  batsmen S. Sharath (Wicket-keeper) remaining 48 n.o (96 balls) and local lad Nikin Jose unbeaten on 73 (134 balls). The two are involved in an unbeaten 145 runs partnership for the fifth wicket.

Goa bowlers failed to make a breakthrough in the entire first session on the third day. For Goa, skipper Darshan Misal and Mohit Redkar, both spinners,  bagged two wickets each, while Arjun Tendulkar, son of cricketing icon Sachin Tendulkar remained  wicketless in the  15 overs that he bowled  while giving away 70 runs. Karnataka hopes to build on quickly over its 65 run lead in the post-lunch session and thus take complete control over the match, leaving Goa no chance of a victory.