Retaining Ranji Trophy title a mere formality for Karnataka

Tamil Nadu were rocked back in their second innings too, as they were reduced to 113 for three after conceding a 628-run first innings lead to Karnataka at the end of the fourth day's play in the Ranji Trophy final at the Wankhede Stadium here on Wednesday.

Earlier in the day, Karnataka added to their overnight score of 618 for seven, with right-hand middle-order batsman Karun Nair finally finishing on an individual score of 328 runs -- the highest in a Ranji Trophy final in the 92-year history of the country's premier domestic cricket tournament.

Nair, 23, went past Baroda batsman Gul Mohammad's 319 made against Holkar in the 1946-47 season final.

Skipper R. Vinay Kumar also scored a ton (105) to ensure they amassed a monumental total of 762 all out.

Later in the day, leg spinning all-rounder Shreyas Gopal pegged back the Tamil Nadu batting, picking up figures of 2/36 as he cleaned up opener Abhinav Mukund (13) and Baba Indrajith (18). Vinay took the other wicket that of India Test opener Murali Vijay (27).

With only seven wickets in hand and a deficit of 515 runs, Tamil Nadu are truly staring down defeat, while Karnataka would want to claim the rest of the scalps on the last day to register themselves as back-to-back Ranji Trophy champions.

Even if they don't bowl Tamil Nadu out, they will prevail on first innings lead.

Brief scores: Tamil Nadu 134 all out, 113 for three (Baba Aparijith 36 not out; Shreyas Gopal 2/36) vs Karnataka 762 all out (Karun Nair 328, Lokesh Rahul 188; Lakshmipathy Balaji 3/120, Malolan Rangarajan 3/183) at stumps on Day 4.