On this day in 2015: Karnataka defend their Ranji Trophy title beating Tamil Nadu
The Karnataka team has been performing well in domestic tournaments in the last few years. They won the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in back to back seasons in 2019 and 2020. In Ranji Trophy, they last won the title back in 2015 on this day i.e. 12th March by defeating Tamil Nadu. They had earlier won the trophy in the 2014 season as well and were successful in defending their title.
The final of the 2014-15 season was held from 8th to 12th March at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. Karnataka won the toss earlier and decided to bowl first in the crucial clash. The Tamil Nadu team performed miserably with the bat in the first innings and got all out for just 134 runs in 62.4 overs. Karnataka captain Vinay Kumar performed wonderfully with the ball as he picked 5 wickets for just 34 runs. Abhimanyu Mithun also took three important wickets.
In response, the Karnataka team posted a mammoth total of 762 runs in 231.2 overs with the help of a magnificent triple century from Karun Nair. The prolific batsman hit 328 runs off 560 balls which included 46 fours and 1 six. Opener KL Rahul too played an important knock of 188 runs off 320 balls with the help of 17 fours and 3 sixes. In the end, captain Vinay Kumar smashed a ton while batting at number 9. Vinay Kumar scored 105 runs off 319 balls and hit 10 fours and 3 sixes in his superb inning.
The Tamil Nadu team were under tremendous pressure after conceding a huge first innings lead to the opponent side. At the end of the fourth day, they had scored 113 runs for 3 wickets and needed some miracle to save the match. The batting duo of Vijay Shankar and Dinesh Karthik did try to manage a draw but failed in the end. Both of them scored hundreds and shared a century partnership for the fifth wicket.
Vijay Shankar scored 103 runs off 164 balls, while Karthik added 120 runs off only 112 balls. The Tamil Nadu team scored 411 runs in 107.5 overs and lost the final by an innings and 217 runs. Karun Nair was adjudged the player of the match for his marvellous triple ton.
