Devdutt Padikkal’s 232, R Smaran’s 121 power Karnataka to 689 in Ranji Trophy semifinal

Lucknow: Karnataka’s left-handed brigade turned the Ranji Trophy semifinal into a personal exhibition of elegant run-making on Monday, as captain Devdutt Padikkal smashed a career-first double-century and R Smaran stroked an unbeaten 121 to propel the eight-time champions to an imposing 689 all out against Uttarakhand at the Ekana Cricket Stadium.

Resuming at 355 for two, Karnataka never allowed the initiative to slip, adding 344 more runs on day two despite losing four wickets. Padikkal, unbeaten overnight on 148, needed only 52 additional deliveries to surge past his previous first-class best of 193, compiled against Punjab in January 2024. The 23-year-old left-hander’s 232 came off 330 balls and featured 29 fours and three sixes, a knock that mixed authoritative cover drives with wristy flicks and ended only when he feathered a fine-leg glance off 17-year-old debutant Lakshya Raichandani.

Karun Nair’s promising stay was halted on 60, the right-hander nicking Abhay Negi to wicketkeeper Saurabh Rawat after a 129-run third-wicket stand. The arrival of Smaran, Karnataka’s leading scorer this season, brought balance to the crease with two left-handers in tandem. While Padikkal continued to flay the attack, Smaran rotated strike with minimal risk, the pair adding 59 before the skipper departed.

Brief hope flickered for Uttarakhand when Shreyas Gopal departed for a duck, bowled by off-spinner Aditya Rawat, but Smaran found another ally in wicketkeeper-batter Kruthik Krishna. The contrasting styles meshed perfectly: Kruthik lofted the spinners fearlessly for 60, while Smaran relied on timing and placement, guiding Karnataka past 600. Their union yielded 118 until Kruthik played on against Avneesh Sudha.

Undeterred, Smaran cruised to his fifth first-class hundred in 150 balls, finishing the day alongside Vidhyadhar Patil, who was 35 not out. On a pitch offering negligible assistance, Uttarakhand’s attack toiled for 180 overs, with only Rawat (3 for 132) and Raichandani (1 for 25) able to extract anything resembling a breakthrough.

By stumps, Karnataka’s left-handed artistry had not only produced the highest total of the knockout stage but also left Uttarakhand facing a mountainous task to stay alive in the contest.