HAR vs KAR 1st Semi-Final Commentary - Vadodara (15 January 2025)

SCORES ARE LEVEL NOW! Sumit rolls his fingers and takes the pace off, bowls a slower bumper outside off, Shreyas Gopal waits for it and creates room for himself by backing away. Taps it to the cover-point gap for a single.

KARNATAKA ARE THROUGH TO THE GRAND FINALE! Kumar strays on the pads, on a length, Abhinav Manohar misses to glance it away. It pins on the thigh pad and deflects toward the deep fine region. They cross! With this, the defending champions, Haryana are knocked out!

Just a yard behind fuller length, on the stumps, Abhinav Manohar hangs back and pulls it to deep mid-wicket for a run.

Closer to the body, on middle and drifting on leg, Shreyas Gopal goes deep in the crease and pulls it off the toe end to widish mid-wicket for a couple of runs.

FOUR! Shot! A good effort, but in vain! Just outside off on a length, this is guided away to deep third. The fielder from the inner ring gives it a long chase to the deep. He slides and flicks the ball back into the playing area. Now, the question is whether his feet were in contact with the rope while the ball in hand. A bit of good effort or presence of mind from Amit Rana as he lifts his right leg in the air, but his left shoe is a bit of touch and go. Split-screen angles come up now to scrutinize it. The TV umpire checks thoroughly and confirms that he had the ball in his hand while his left boot contacted the boundary rope. 

Full at the stumps, Shreyas Gopal taps it to mid off. 

Tossed right up, on off, Gopal drives it on the full but straight to cover.

Short and drifting into the pads, Shreyas Gopal turns it around to square leg for a single. Karnataka just two runs away now.

Full and flat, turning in from outside off, Smaran Ravichandran hangs back and tucks it to the leg side.

Nice and full, around off, Smaran Ravichandran leans on it and clips it to mid-wicket.

OUT! KNOCKED HIM OVER! A pearler from Nishant Sindhu! Stays over the stumps, and dishes out a fuller-length delivery. Lands it on the money, right on one of those cracks which produces sharp grip and turn into the batter. Smaran Ravichandran commits on the front foot and tries to access his flick shot to the leg side. But he is totally beaten by the turn which creates a fair bit of gap between the bat and the pad. It is enough for the ball to sneak through and clatter the wickets. Smaran Ravichandran departs after playing a top-class knock of 76 (94). A little too late for Haryana as they get the fifth wicket.

Darted in full, on middle and off, Abhinav Manohar blocks it out to point. 

Tossed up, on off, Manohar drives it to long off for a single and gets off the mark. 

Very full, at the toes, Gopal flicks it to the right of long on and gets two more runs. Karnataka just need 10 more runs to win now.

FOUR! Gee, that's some shot from Shreyas Gopal! Anuj Thakral bowls it from a wider angle, but overcooks it and bowls it too full outside off, Shreyas Gopal goes deep inside the crease, knows that the cover fielder is in the ring, and simply lofts it over it for a boundary.

Length, on the stumps, worked to mid-wicket.

FOUR! Easy pickings! Not that full and not short by any means, around off on that in-between length. Shreyas Gopal lets the ball arrive and chips it on the rise, to long off for a boundary.

Bounced out now, around off, Shreyas Gopal swivels and pulls it through mid-wicket for a single.

WIDE. Way down the leg side, Smaran Ravichandran has nothing to do with it. Good stop by the keeper diving to his right.

Full, just outside off, Gopal shows the full face of the bat and drives it towards mid off.

On a length, outside off, angling in, Shreyas backs away, opens the face of his bat and guides it straight to point. 11 from the over.

Overpitched on middle, Shreyas drills it down to long on and rotates the strike.

That's some prodigious turn! Landing right on of the cracks around off, and turning sharply into the batter, Smaran Ravichandran is flummoxed with the turn and bounce, and just gets pinged on the pad trying to work it across.

Fuller and fractionally outside off, kept out by Smaran.

Only if Haryana had some more runs to play with! The ball is now turning a mile. Flighted, outside off, Smaran Ravichandran got a long way across and looked to flick, but missed and was hit on the pads. The keeper and the bowler appealed for LBW, as the ball deflected off the pads behind the keeper. The batters kept running but the umpire showed no interest in the appeal. Ankit Kumar decided to take it upstairs and Ball Tracking shows the impact also to be umpire's call and even the hitting of the ball on the wickets. Review is not lost but Haryana will feel a bit let down. Meanwhile, amidst all that confusion, two runs were taken. Leg byes signalled.

FOUR! What a shot. A tad short, around off, Smaran goes back, uses the pace of the bowler and just punches it between backward point and short third!

A short ball again, around off, punched back to the bowler.

Full and pitching outside off, Smaran Ravichandran steers it down to long on for an easy single.

Not that full in length, just a yard ahead of the good length, on off, Shreyas Gopal leans on and eases it wide of backward point for another run.

Easily rotates the strike again! Length, around off, punched down to long on for one more.

Just a bit of drama towards the close. Landed outside off, a touch short, Shreyas Gopal attempted to paddle it around the corner, but could not quite find the gap. The ball hit his pads and lobbed up to the keeper, who claimed the catch. The appeal was referred upstairs as the umpires wanted to check whether the ball lobbed off the boot into the keeper's gloves. The third umpire first gets the angle from square leg which is inconclusive but then, the angle from the other side clearly shows the ball bouncing first, then hitting the pad and eventually lobbing to the keeper. NOT OUT is the decision.

Fuller, outside off, Gopal drives it straight to short extra cover.

Outside off, Shreyas dabs it to the right of short third for a single.

Pitched fuller around off, Smaran Ravichandran flicks it through mid-wicket for a single. The 200 is up for Karnataka! They need 38 more to win from 53 balls remaining.

Very full, just around off, Shreyas Gopal drives it to long off for a single. Gets off the mark!

Drags his length, does Nishant. On a length, turns back into the batter from outside off. Smaran Ravichandran gets on the back foot to defend but inside edges onto the front pad.

Full, around off, Smaran Ravichandran works it straight to short mid-wicket.

NO BALL! What was that? It is a no ball not for overstepping but because it bounced twice before it could reach the batter! Also, it was miles outside off and Smaran just let it be. Probably, Sindhu was trying to do too much on just one ball. Free Hit loading now.

Catch taken at long off, but it is a Free Hit, so the catch will not count. Flighted outside off, Ravichandran comes down the track and looks to go big, but is not quite to the pitch of the ball. Miscues it towards long off and takes the single. IMPORTANTLY. For all those who watched the Women's Ashes game on Tuesday, will understand the plight of Amy Jones on a Free Hit.

Outside off, Shreyas Gopal drives it straight to cover.

Quick and flat, on a good length, at off, Smaran Ravichandran hangs back and works it along the ground to long off. They cross.

Wayward on the legs, Shrijith sweeps this full ball to deep fine for one.

Back of a length, just outside off, Smaran Ravichandran places it straight to short third.

Full, around middle, Smaran Ravichandran pushes it down to long on for a single.

Outside off, Krishnan Shrijith reaches out and drives it through the covers for a couple.

OUT! CAUGHT! That ends a frustrating day for Krishnan Shrijith. He was extremely sloppy with the gloves and now, with the bat, his stay has ended in 5 balls. Flighted, outside off, a touch wide, Shrijith blindly jumps down the track, not interested in playing the ball on its merit for a while. Is nowhere near the pitch of the ball and gets a big top edge. Himanshu Rana covers good ground to his left from short third and dives to take a very good catch near point. Excellent effort but a questionable shot. Shrijith departs for 3 and is that door fractionally open for Haryana? Karnataka are 199/4 and need just another 39 from 54 balls.

Starts with a fuller one, at the stumps, Smaran Ravichandran works it to deep square leg for a couple of runs.

SIX! Top shot! Tossed up, on middle, Smaran gets low on his knee and slogs sweeps it well over deep square leg for a biggie..

Quicker and fuller, on middle and leg, Smaran turns it around to mid-wicket for a single. 

OUT! CAUGHT! A wicket against the run of play and the only disappointment for Karnataka would be that Devdutt Padikkal has missed out on a second consecutive Vijay Hazare Trophy century! Selfless style of batting, putting the team ahead of his century. He wanted to keep the pressure on Haryana and decided to take on Sindhu. Jumped down the track, but did so a bit too early. That gave Nishant just that extra time to delay his delivery, which he did, slowing the ball up beautifully, outside off. Padikkal was down the pitch and aiming for a mighty heave, but could not get to the pitch of the ball. Got a massive top edge which was skied straight up in the night sky. Amit Rana stayed under it for a long time but eventually took it to his left from mid off. Padikkal departs for a possibly match-winning 86 and the 128-run stand is broken. Karnataka are 194/3 and need just 44 from 62 balls.

Outside off, pushed towards point.

On middle and leg, this is worked towards short mid-wicket. So Haryana do get Padikkal, but the damage has already been done.

Pitching full, on middle, Padikkal taps it to mid on.

Much fuller, in and around middle and off, Devdutt Padikkal drives it well but can't beat mid on. 

FOUR! Smart and effective! Parth drops it short and on leg, Padikkal scoops it behind and beats fine leg to his left despite a dive. 

On middle and leg, Devdutt Padikkal punches it down to long on for a single.

Full, around leg stump, Smaran Ravichandran pushes it past the bowler through mid on, for a run.

Fired in on middle and off, Padikkal works it towards short mid-wicket.

Starts with a short one, angling into the stumps, Devdutt Padikkal punches it to cover for a single.

FIFTY FOR SMARAN! His second half century this season! Incredible knock at an important time for Karnataka! Do not be surprised if he decides to switch gears now. This is full, on off, Smaran knocks it to long on for one.

Drags the length down and on off, Padikkal slaps it to deep cover for a single.

Fuller, around middle and leg, defended back to the bowler.

SIX! PLUNDERED! Fractionally short, but that is enough for Smaran Ravichandran. He instantly rocks back and heaves a pull over wide long on! 59 more needed now, from 73 balls. The stand is worth 113.

The arm ball, fired into the stumps, Smaran is forced into the back foot and just about gets his bat down in a hurry, in the nick of time.

Milking runs with ease at the moment. The partnership is up to 99 runs. Short and on off, Smaran punches it to long off for a single.

Straight at the stumps, on a fuller length, the ball scoots very low but DDP like always finds a way to keep it out. 

FOUR! The stand moves past 100 runs! A commendable effort! Full and outside off, there to be hit, Padikkal frees his arms and creams it through covers for four runs.

On middle and leg, Devdutt Padikkal works it through square leg for a single.

Full and down the leg side, Smaran Ravichandran flicks it straight to square leg.

Another dot ball which means Smaran has to stay on 49.  Outside leg, the batter can only push it towards short mid-wicket.

Starts with a short one and on middle and off, Padikkal knocks it through mid off for a single.

Takes some pace off and and keeps it fuller than the previous one, on off, Smaran pushes it to cover.

Length, on middle and off, Smaran taps it in front of mid off and steals a quick run.

Wants to end this early now, does Padikkal. Exposes all his stumps by backing away to the leg side pretty early and on seeing that, Sumit bowls an off cutter, outside off. Devdutt Padikkal throws his bat at it, aiming to go inside out but only drags it back onto the pitch. Gets it past the bowler for a single. 79 more needed from 86 balls.

FOUR! FANTASTIC! Why do something heroic, asks Smaran? On a length, around off, Smaran Ravichandran gets to the pitch of the ball, stays slightly leg side of the same and punches it sweetly through the covers! Moves to 47 now.

Outside off, punched through the covers for a run.

Short and at the stumps, Smaran whips it to deep square leg for a single. 

Darts it very full, at the pads, Devdutt Padikkal blocks it back to the bowler. 

That one spins viciously with some extra bounce. Short and on middle and leg, the ball bites the surface and climbs up while turning in a long way. DDP goes back to play it across but is undone by both turn and bounce. The ball hits him on the chest and rolls past the keeper to his left.

Quicker and flatter on a length, on middle, Padikkal knocks it back to the bowler.

Goes fuller now, on the leg stump, Padikkal clips it straight to square leg.

Drops a good-length delivery, on the leg stump line, Devdutt Padikkal plays a paddle scoop to widish short fine for a single.

FOUR! Streaky, very streaky! Anshul bowls it on a length, angling it across, just outside off, Padikkal with soft hands opens the bat face late and tries to steer it behind. The ball goes off the outside edge and races past the diving keeper to his left for a boundary. 150 UP FOR KARNATAKA, 86 more needed from 101 balls.

Digs it in short and over middle and off, Padikkal tries to ramp it behind but misses. 

Full and on off, Padikkal firms his drive but finds the fielder at mid off. 

Good length, on top of off, Devdutt Padikkal punches it off the back foot and gets it through cover-point gap. Scampers with ease for the second run.

Hard length, on the middle and leg, Padikkal tucks it across to mid-wicket.

Brings the line of attack to the off stump, on a good length, Devdutt Padikkal prods well forward to keep it out.

Drops it short, on middle and leg, Padikkal hangs back and punches it to long on for a single.

Similar line and length, Smaran turns it around to deep square leg for one. 

A bit fuller and on middle and off, Padikkal hits it straight to mid off. 

Pitched on middle, on a length, Padikkal creates room by backing away, and punches it to covers where Nishant does well to stop with a dive.

Drops short again, on the stumps, Devdutt Padikkal rocks back, uses the depth of the crease and hits it through covers for a couple more.

This is fine, fine running by the two southpaws! Onto the pads, on a fractional fuller length, Devdutt Padikkal gets across and laps it through the vacant short fine region. Runs the first two hard, and it is Smaran Ravichandran who calls in for the third run. Meanwhile, the ball trickles away to the fence and is intercepted by the fielder from deep fine who slides to his left on his haunches, and flicks the ball inside. The batters hare back for the third. The TV umpire confirms that the fielder in the deep has done well to keep his body away from the rope, while flicking the ball in. 

SIX! HUGE! A hostile welcome back into the attack for Anshul Kamboj. Short of a length, on middle, Smaran is quick to switch his weight back and nails his pull over deep mid-wicket for a humongous six. 

Hard length, at the stumps, Smaran Ravichandran taps it to cover for a single. The third umpire checks the front foot landing and calls it a NO BALL. A Free Hit to follow!

FOUR! Very smart! Padikkal premeditates the ball to be fuller in length and shuffles across the line well in advance. Takes this very full ball on and scoops it behind the keeper for a boundary. 

Full, on off, Devdutt Padikkal drives it to mid off.

Steams in and lands it on a good length, around off, angling in. Padikkal hops on the back foot and tucks it to short mid-wicket.

Karnataka now need below triple digits! Good length, outside off, Devdutt Padikkal leans back and cuts it well past point. The fielder from deep cover sprints and intercepts the ball to his right. The batters cross for a couple of runs.

The most expensive over of the innings, that too, from Anshul Kamboj! 15 runs off it! Short of a good length, well outside off, Devdutt Padikkal uses the pace, plays late, and guides it to deep third for an easy single to end the over. Karnataka now need 97 more runs to win in 18 overs remaining.

Starts with a short ball, on off, Smaran turns it across to square leg.

Fuller than the previous on, on off, Smaran Ravichandran punches it to deep point for one.

Drifting into the pads, on a nagging length, Padikkal goes deep in the crease and taps it to square leg.

Short of a good length, on middle and leg, punched away to mid on.

Darted in, full and on middle, Devdutt Padikkal backs away, opens the bat face late and guides it to short third for one.

At 99.1 kph, short and on the stumps, Smaran Ravichandran hangs back and pulls it along the ground. Milks another single at deep mid-wicket. Karnataka need 112 runs in 114 balls.

Is that a wicket? A stumping appeal has been referred upstairs. Not much excitement in the Haryana camp. Amit Rana flighted this ball outside off and looped it nicely, drawing the batter forward. Smaran Ravichandran obliged and lunged to try and meet the ball but missed it, as the ball dipped onto him and then went past the outside edge. The keeper, Dinesh Bana, watched the ball closely and collected it cleanly and whipped off the bails in a flash. He appealed instantly, but did not seem too confident. What do the replays show? Ooohhh... seems mighty close! That back foot seems to be on the line! But the third umpire is not too convinced and says that this vision is pretty blurred and hence, he is not able to come to any conclusion. Asks for another angle and eventually states that he reckons that something is behind the popping crease! Wow. My eyesight is certainly not the best, but tell you what, Smaran is mightily lucky to be still batting out there. I could not see anything behind that line, to be honest.

Landed outside off, this time Smaran meets the ball with a lunge and pushes it back to the bowler.

Fuller, around off, pushed towards the bowler again.

Full, on off, Smaran drives it down to long off for a single.

On a length, around off, Padikkal hangs back and punches it wide of cover. Nishant Sindhu from the cover region prevents any run as he moves swiftly to his right to stop the ball.

Nice and full, tossed up around off, Devdutt Padikkal leans onto the ball and eases it to mid off. A good over for Haryana. Just a solo run from it. Rana finishes with figures of 10-0-29-1. Bowled well, but his side needed more in that wickets' column.

Fired in on middle, Smaran Ravichandran pushes it towards long on for a single.

7TH CONSECUTIVE FIFTY-PLUS SCORE IN VIJAY HAZARE TROPHY FOR DEVDUTT PADIKKAL! What a talent. That 50 has come in just 72 balls. Has shown intent right from the first ball. On middle and leg, Padikkal got back and across and worked it through square leg for a single. 

On middle and leg, pushed through mid on for a run.

Length ball, lands on middle and turns back into the batter. Devdutt Padikkal is cramped up for room and only manages to get a blow on the body. The ball then deflects and rolls to the off side.

Fraction fuller and around off, Padikkal places it to backward point for a single. 

5 runs from this over! Floated full and on leg, Smaran clips it along the ground to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Full, outside off, Devdutt Padikkal reaches out and drives it wide of long off for a single.

A bit of flight, around off, Smaran Ravichandran reaches out and pushes it towards cover.

Quicker through the air, around off, Smaran pushes it down the ground to long off for a run.

At 88.9 kph, tad full on off, Devdutt Padikkal punches it down to long on for one more. 50-RUN STAND IS UP! Consecutive 50-run stands, something which Haryana could not manage with the bat.

Dishes out a fuller one, around off, Smaran Ravichandran takes a good stride out and drives it to long off for a single.

Comparitively slower than the previous two balls, looped up, fuller and on off, Padikkal opens the bat face late and guides it to short third.

Full, on middle and leg, Smaran Ravichandran chips it down to long on for a single.

On middle and leg, Devdutt Padikkal pushes it down to long on for a run.

A tad short, on middle and leg, Smaran punches it back to the bowler.

Fired in at the legs, full in length, Smaran misses to sweep and the ball ricochets off the front pad to short fine. They cross.

Nice and full, on the stumps, pushed with ease to mid on.

Brings the angle much closer to the stumps, on a fuller length. Devdutt Padikkal instead of playing on the front foot, commits on the back foot and guides it to short third for one.

Full, around off, Devdutt Padikkal leans and drives it through mid off for a single. The stand moves to 40 (58).

Around off, punched towards cover.

A tad fuller, outside off, Smaran Ravichandran reaches out and drives it towards long off for a run.

Grip and turn there! Drops full and just might have landed on the crack which turns the ball away from the batter. Devdutt is beaten by the spin as he tries to defend inside the line. The ball even beats the keeper, parrying off the gloves, and runs behind him, allowing the batters to cross for a bye.

Fuller ball, drifting on leg, Smaran looks to sweep it away but misses and gets pinned on the body. 

Slower through the air, full and around off, Smaran Ravichandran strides across and eases it to backward point for a single.

Flatter and quicker through the air, on middle and leg, Smaran Ravichandran works it through mid on for a single to bring up the 100 FOR KARNATAKA. 138 more needed from 155 balls.

WIDE. Down the leg side, Devdutt Padikkal misses his flick.

And now, a WIDE PLUS A BYE. Back-to-back deliveries down the leg side, once again Padikkal misses his flick but this time, the keeper failed to collect as well, parrying the ball to short fine leg and allowing the single.

On middle and leg, Smaran flicks it straight to short mid-wicket.

On middle and leg again, a touch shorter, this time Ravichandran goes back and works it towards short mid-wicket.

Pushed through full, on middle, Smaran Ravichandran knocks it to long on for one. 

Short and at the stumps, the ball keeps low off the deck and Padikkal just about manages to bring his bat down and pushes it out. A wide smile on his face. 

Full, on middle and leg, Devdutt Padikkal tucks it to long on for one. 

In the air, but in the gap! Flighted and full, outside off, Smaran Ravichandran went with his free-flowing drive through the covers but could not keep it down. There was a fielder placed for that shot, at extra cover, but the ball flew past his right, towards sweeper cover in the deep. A single taken.

On middle, Devdutt Padikkal comes forward and pushes it through mid on for a run. The stand is worth 30 (47).

The arm ball, around middle and leg, Smaran works it through square leg for a couple.

Fuller and outside off, Smaran pushes it to cover.

Tossed up, on off, Smaran Ravichandran drives it to the left of cover.

A tad bit short and on off, Smaran punches it to long off and gets a run on the last ball.

Down the leg side, Smaran Ravichandran misses his flick. The ball deflects off his pads through square leg and a leg bye is taken.

On middle and leg, Devdutt Padikkal works it straight to square leg.

Oh dear. This is what happens if you bowl wicket to wicket. Sindhu comes from around the wicket, bowls it on middle and off stump and keeps it between good and full. Padikkal stays back to defend but the ball stays low and just about takes the bottom edge towards point.

Full at the stumps, Devdutt Padikkal turns it to mid on. 

Very straight and full, Devdutt Padikkal watchfully blocks it down the deck.

SIX! BANG! The bubble of pressure is broken by DDP! Tossed up, on middle by Sindhu, Padikkal skips down to the pitch of the ball and clubs it way over mid on for a biggie. 

Full, outside off, Smaran Ravichandran reaches out and drives it through mid off for a single.

Flighted, around middle and off, Devdutt Padikkal comes down the track but is not to the pitch of the ball and is forced to defend.

Flighted again, outside off, this time Padikkal stays in his crease, comes forward and drives it towards long off for a run.

Quicker through the air, full and on off, Smaran Ravichandran offers a solid front foot block.

Pushed through, full and on off, Smaran taps it to cover.

Darts it in, full and at the stumps, angling in from wider on the crease, Smaran Ravichandran knocks it to long on for a single.

A tad short, on middle, Smaran Ravichandran works it through mid-wicket for a couple.

Down the leg side, Smaran tucks it through square leg for a single.

Fuller, on middle, Devdutt Padikkal whips it straight to short mid-wicket, who fumbles and parries it to long on. A run taken.

Short and on leg, Smaran clips it to backward square leg.

Full, on off, Smaran Ravichandran drives it back to the bowler. 

Nagging length, on off, Smaran goes deep in the crease and punches it to long on for one. 5 runs come off this over.

Dropped fuller and around off, Smaran drives it inside out, with the spin, past the cover fielder for one.

Slower through the air, full and on off, Padikkal leans out to defend it to the short cover.

Flighted up, full on the stumps, dabbed to the point region.

Full, on off, Padikkal knocks it past cover to his left for a single. 

Full, on off, Smaran Ravichandran prods out and pushes it back to the bowler. 

Another fuller-length ball, on off, Smaran Ravichandran eases it to long off for one.

Short and wide outside off, Padikkal cuts it to deep backward point for a single. 

FOUR! Straight as an arrow! A genuine half volley served by Anuj, on middle and leg, Smaran Ravichandran walks a step ahead, brings his bat straight down, meets the middle and drives it straight down the ground for a boundary.

Length, around off, slashes away, but finds the fielder at point.

On a length, on middle, generates some extra zip of the surface. Smaran Ravichandran drops it down the deck while his bottom hand goes off the hand. 

Back of a length, outside off, Smaran cuts it to cover.

Good length, at the stumps, Smaran Ravichandran tucks it through mid-wicket and takes a single.

In front of the stumps, full in length, Smaran Ravichandran presses forward and blocks.

In the line of the middle stump, and full again, defended well on the front foot.

Drags back his length, on top of off, Smaran Ravichandran hangs back and punches it to long off for one.

Full, on middle, Padikkal taps it in front of point and looks to sneak a single but is sent back.

Full, on off, driven to mid off by Devdutt Padikkal.

Short and on middle and leg, Padikkal knocks it to square leg and takes a run. Just the two runs of this over. Haryana bowlers are building pressure. 

Searing pace, full and on the middle, Devdutt presses forward and blocks it out to the pitch.

Pulls the length back, around off, Smaran Ravichandran gets on the back foot and knocks it to the cover region.

Three dots in a row! Just a bit outside off, on a length, cut away straight to backward point.

Back of a length, outside off, Smaran Ravichandran works it through point for a single. The fielder from deep cover sprints to his right and slides to make a sharp stop to keep it down to just one.

Back of a length, on off, DDP cuts it late to short third.

Goes full, on off, Devdutt Padikkal miscues his drive through the off side to mid on.

Lands it full and on off, KV Aneesh takes a huge stride out and drives it along the ground and gets a single at long off.

Very full, on off, Devdutt Padikkal drives inside-out to long off for one more.

OUT! UP THE AIR AND TAKEN SAFELY! A nothing shot from Aneesh and finally, Haryana get a breakthrough! This is fired in quickly, on middle and leg, on a fuller length, KV Aneesh is caught in the crease and does not quite execute the weight transfer on the back foot. Goes through the shot to access the leg side by whipping across, using his wrists. Ends up top-edging it in the air. The ball lobs and swirls in the air over the square leg region where Sumit Kumar takes it calmly. After doing all the hard work, consuming 47 balls for his 22, Aneesh gets out in a pretty lazy manner. Might be a good thing for Karnataka given that he was struggling, but clearly, not a great display of commitment from the batter. The 62-run stand is broken and they are 66/2, needing another 172 from 207 balls.

Very full, at the stumps, Smaran drives it straight back to the bowler. 

Pulls the length back and keeps it on leg, Smaran Ravichandran looks to tuck it across but misses. The ball brushes his thigh pad and goes behind to short leg.

Full, at the stumps, Smaran eases it out to long on and takes a single to get off the mark.

Drops a flatter one, full and outside off, driven firmly but straight to point.

Gets a single now! Good running! Floated up, full and on off, KV Aneesh lunges ahead and eases the ball in front of cover-point for a quick single.

Quicker, fuller and on middle, turning a shade into the batter, Devdutt Padikkal hangs back and tucks it across to square leg.

Landed outside off, Devdutt Padikkal looks to tap and run towards short third but this time, he is sent back. A fair bit of miscommunication between the batters.

Full and around off, defended back to the bowler.

Quicker through the air, around leg stump, Padikkal looks to tuck it away but misses and is hit on the pads.

FOUR! A boundary after 39 balls for Karnataka! A genuine freebie from Thakral! On the pads, full in length, Padikkal gets inside the line and helps it with the pace, tickling it to deep fine for four runs.

Length, around off, worked away to deep third for one.

Attacks the stumps on a length, KV Aneesh gets right behind it and knocks it straight to the pitch.

On a good length, outside off, KV Aneesh pushes it towards point.

Fuller, outside off, Aneesh looks to tap and run towards cover-point but is sent back.

A touch short, on leg stump, KV tucks it behind square leg for a single.

Nice and full, on middle, pushed back to the bowler.

Full again, in front of the stumps, Aneesh leans on and steers it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

A hint of turn there! On a fuller length, turning away from off, DDP lunges out and drives it with the spin, to the cover fielder.

Landed outside leg, Devdutt Padikkal looks to turn it around the corner, but get squared up as the ball holds up on the pitch.

Full and straight, Padikkal blocks it back to the bowler.

Full, just outside off, Devdutt lunges and looks to push but gets a bit of an outside edge towards short third, for a single.

A bit too full and outside off, Devdutt Padikkal gets his front foot out, drives it to deep cover for a comfortable single.

Uneven bounce! Around off, slightly fuller in length. It lands, jags back sharply and stays low on the bounce. KV Aneesh is rooted in the crease and tries to punch it to the off side. Plays over the line and the ball sneaks through the gap between bat and pad. Passes very close to the off pole, on the way to the keeper on a couple of bounces.

Length ball on the stumps, KV turns to mid on for a single.

Landed outside off, Padikkal is on the walk, out to meet the ball and pushes it towards point.

50-RUN STAND UP IN 68 BALLS! Good recovery after losing the skipper for a duck. On a good length but arrowed down the leg side, Devdutt missed his flick but the ball went off his pads through square leg. A single taken, leg bye signalled.

On a good length, outside off, extra bounce, KV Aneesh rises with the bounce and nudges it through mid-wicket for one.

Starts from around the stumps, lands full and around off, blocked well by Padikkal.

On the pads, on a length, Padikkal nurdles it wide of square leg for a quick solo.

The 50 comes up for Karnataka! Over the wickets, full and floated up around off, KV Aneesh leans ahead and drills it down to long off for a single.

A bit slower through the air, outside off, Devdutt Padikkal drives it towards cover.

A bit quicker now, flatter as well, Padikkal goes back and wrists it through mid-wicket but cannot find the gap.

Fuller, outside off, Devdutt leans and drives it towards long off for a run.

A very optimistic appeal for LBW, turned down. On a length, just outside off, Aneesh walks down the track a couple of steps and tries to drop it across but misses and gets hit high on the front pad. 

WIDE! Sliding down leg, on a length, Aneesh looks to help it on its way but misses. 

Fuller than a good length, at the stumps, Aneesh tucks it through square leg for a brace. The partnership is building on very nicely between these two.

Short of a length, on off, KV cuts it to deep third for a single. 

Another one stays low. Fast and furious from Thakral, from over the wicket, landing the ball on a length, outside off and angling it away, Devdutt Padikkal looked to steer it towards point but missed due to the low bounce.

Fuller and straighter, watchfully blocked towards point.

Landed outside off, Padikkal reaches out and steers it behind point for a single. Karnataka end Powerplay 1 on 48/1. Haryana were not far ahead, making 50/1.

Length, on off, Padikkal steers it to backward point.

Angling in a bit, on off, and on a good length, Padikkal looks to drive it through the off side but the ball doesn't quite come to him at the same pace. He gets an inside edge that falls down the deck and rolls to the leg side. 

On a length, on off, Padikkal pushes it out through point for a single.

On a good length, outside off, rears up after pitching. KV Aneesh is surprised but manages to fend it down the pitch.

Full, outside off, coming in with the angle, Aneesh drives it crisply towards mid off.

On middle and leg, KV turns it through square leg and runs hard but will get just the single as deep backward square leg quickly gets to his left to stop the ball.

At 128.8 kph, Anuj lands it on a length, outside off, Devdutt Padikkal cuts it to point and takes a run.

Angling into the pads, on a length, Aneesh tries to tickle it behind but misses. The ball brushes his pad and goes to the left of the keeper who dives and makes a good stop. The batters sneak in a quick single. Called leg byes!

On a good length, on off, Devdutt Padikkal pushes it through point for a single.

Full and just outside off, KV Aneesh exhibits another solid defense.

Huge shout for LBW! Not given. Will Haryana review? No, says skipper Ankit Kumar. He is indicating inside edge. On a good length, outside off, Aneesh got a long way across, with a bit of a shimmy as well, looking to work the ball on the leg side. Missed and was hit on the pads, prompting an appeal. Ball Tracking shows the impact to be well outside off. Good decision not to review, albeit, not sure about the inside edge.

Outside off, punched towards cover. Decent start by the newbie.

A big swing and a miss! It is important for Aneesh to stay calm in the middle. Very full, outside off, shaping away further, Aneesh has a wild swing across the line and misses out on making any connection. 

Good ball. Right in line and length, over middle and off, KV Aneesh blocks it to mid off. 

FOUR! That's a very good shot! A slight mixup in between the fielders but the ball bisects through their confusion and races away. Back of a good length, just outside off, KV Aneesh punches it right through the gap at extra cover and backward point. Both the fielders wait for each other to charge at it and eventually end up letting it go through.

That is a beauty. On a good length, outside off, KV Aneesh looks to play that with an open face of his bat but the ball nips back in a long way and beats the inside edge of the bat, not missing the off stump by much either.

Full and straight, Aneesh comes forward and defends it back to Kamboj.

That was a quick jaffa. Full and outside off, at good pace, KV looks to drive that sans any footwork but the ball moves away late, to beat the outside edge. Just the boundary from that over.

FOUR! Playing to the field is DDP! These boundaries are taking pressure off from Aneesh's shoulder at the other end. Fuller than a length, outside off, Padikkal gets low in his stance and angles the bat face to steer it past short third for a boundary. 

Full and wider on off, Padikkal carves it to deep point for a single.

Can that be called a dropped catch? Wasn't that far from Sumit's hand but that should've been taken. On a good length, around off, the ball sticks to the surface a bit and comes slower than Aneesh was anticipating it to. He looks to drive it straight and ends up chipping it back at the bowler to his right. Sumit tries to take it in his followthrough tries to take it with both hands to his right but misses out. 

SIX! MURDERED! Gets off the mark in some style, eh? After 14 dot balls on the trot, KV Aneesh finally opens his account on the 15th. Fractionally short, outside off, Aneesh rocks back in a trice and pulls it brutally over mid-wicket! It took 298 legal balls to see Haryana score their first six in the game. Karnataka have got their first way quicker. 205 more needed from 266 balls.

A length ball, around off, Aneesh defends it beside the pitch on the off side.

A bit too straight, KV tickles it towards fine leg for a single to retain the strike. The stand moves to 30 (33).

Tap and run! On a length, at the pads, Padikkal taps it to mid on and calls Aneesh through for a quick single.

Back of a good length, just outside off, KV Aneesh punches it to cover. 

Good length, in and around middle and off, Aneesh knocks it to mid off. 

Make that three dots in a row! 11th for Aneesh! He would be itching to get that first run! Back of a length, outside off, KV Aneesh leans back and knocks it to the off side. 

Fourth dot! Excellent from Kamboj this! At the stumps, on a fuller length, KV Aneesh prods forward and blocks it out to the cover region.

Length, just around off, punched into the cover region. 

FOUR! Beautiful shot! Short of a good length, and width outside off, Devdutt Padikkal frees his arms and punches it through cover-point for a boundary.

Angling away further wider outside off, on a length, Padikkal has to reach for it and he cuts it to cover. 

Good length, with the line pulled closer to that off stump, DDP watchfully lets it pass. 

Outside off on a good length, Devdutt Padikkal leaves this harmless delivery.

Ahh, that one kept low! Pitches it on a good length, on middle and angling in. It lands and keeps low but Padikkal does well to stab it to the leg side. We have seen the ball rising above from the same area. Testing line and length this from Sumit!

Quick single there! A bit full and around off, Devdutt Padikkal pins the drive between mid off and cover for a run.

Back of a length, over off, DDP goes back and punches it neatly to point. 

Angling away, outside off, on a length, Padikkal has a slash at it, trying to flay it away from the body and gets beaten on the outside edge. 

Good leave! On a tight length, just outside off, angling away, Devdutt Padikkal covers his off stump and makes a leave. 

FOUR! Graceful stroke! Back of a length, over off, Devdutt Padikkal lets the ball arrive at him as he rises with the bounce. Transfers the weight on the back foot and punches it through cover-point for a cracking boundary.

An effort ball, short of a good length, rises a bit more off the deck, on middle. Devdutt Padikkal is taken aback by the excessive bounce and just about manages to tap the ball away to the right of the bowler.

Hard length outside off, Padikkal cuts it to deep backward point for an easy single to end the over.

So nearly chopped it back onto the stumps. On a good length, outside off, the ball keeps very low off the deck. Devdutt Padikkal looks to cut it away but gets undone by the lack of bounce. Gets an inside edge that falls beside the stumps and races behind to fine leg for a single.

FIVE WIDES! Poor ball and an ordinary effort from the keeper. Length, down leg, KV Aneesh leaves it alone and the keeper, Dinesh Bana moves to his left but fails to get low and make a stop. The ball races through him and goes behind to the fine leg fence for a boundary. 

Good length, on middle and off, KV Aneesh pushes it to cover.

Hard length, just around middle and off, Aneesh looks to cut it through off but gets an inside edge that drops around the crease and rolls behind to short fine leg. 

Straight at the stumps, on a fuller length, deviating in a touch. KV Aneesh just about manages to tuck it to short mid-wicket.

Aneesh stands out of his crease to negate any movement. This is full and on the stumps again, flicked away to the mid-wicket fielder.

WIDE! Haryana cannot afford to bowl these many extras here! Strayed down leg, on a length. KV Aneesh lets it through. Wide called.

Corrects the line and length now. A gentle-paced delivery at 122.6 kph, full and on middle, KV Aneesh prods ahead and pushes it to mid on. 8 balls faced and he hasn't got off the mark!

FOUR LEG BYES! Karnataka's chase is underway with extras. On a back of a length, angling into the batter on leg, Mayank Agarwal is late on his attempt to tuck it fine. The ball clips his thigh pad and races behind to beat fine leg to his right for a boundary.

Back of a length, on off, Mayank Agarwal gets on top of his toes and dabs it to point.

OUT! LBW! A huge shout for LBW and the umpire raises his finger, Mayank Agarwal consults with DDP and decides to send it upstairs. Anshul Kamboj lands it on a good length around off and gets the ball to nip back in sharply. Mayank Agarwal gets his front leg out and looks to tuck it across only to miss the ball and get hit plumb in front of the stumps. The UltraEdge shows no spike as the ball is way past the inside edge. The Ball Tracker shows the pitch and impact to be right and the wickets to be clipping the top of the stumps which turns out to be an 'Umpire's call'. A huge, huge wicket for Haryana as Kamboj gets rid of the in-form Mayank Agarwal for a duck! Karnataka rocked early and are 4/1.

Shaping away, keeping low, outside off on a length, Aneesh lets it be.

Kamboj hits the deck hard, around off, KV Aneesh gets right behind it and knocks it to the off side.

At 135.3 kph, on a good length, outside off, KV Aneesh rises with the bounce, taps it to cover-point. Three dots after the wicket of Agarwal. One over done, Karnataka are 4/1.