Karnataka, with the help of captain Mayank Agarwal’s unbeaten double century, is in a comfortable position against Saurashtra on day-2 of the second semifinal of the Ranji Trophy. On the morning of the second day, Agarwal held an end when others were falling against the pace attack of Saurashtra. Agarwal has scored 208 runs off 277 balls with the help of 23 fours and 4 sixes.
On the first day of the game, senior Karnataka players like Manish Pandey, Shreyas Gopal, and R Samarth failed to score big against the pace battery of Saurashtra led by young Chetan Sakariya and Kushang Patel. However, skipper Agarwal concentrated and smashed the third and most important ton of the season. He, along with wicketkeeper-batter Srinivas Sharath, made a 139-run partnership for the sixth wicket. Sharath in his innings scored 66 runs off 153 balls with the help of four 4s.
After winning the toss, Saurashtra opted to bowl first against the home team. In the first two sessions, Saurashtra led the game and proved to be a nightmare for the home team as five batters got out in the single-digit scores. However, Karnataka captain Agarwal, after being dropped by Snell Patel, troubled visitors and took his team to a comfortable score. In 123 overs, Karnataka scored 364 runs after losing eight wickets.
Mayank Agarwal running out of the National team
31-year-old Karnataka skipper is currently running out of the national side and looking to make comeback. In this Ranji season, Agarwal has scored three centuries including two double centuries and leading from the front. Although, it will be very difficult for Agarwal to make it into the national team when batters like Shubman Gill, Prithvi Shaw, and Sharfaraz Khan are sitting out.
At the start of the season, Agarwal expressed a desire to replicate his 2017–18 season, when he smashed over 1160 runs in 13 innings at an average of 105.45. In this season, Agarwal has hammered more than 900 runs with an average over 80 and leading the tally of top run scorers.
Although, fans react to his incredible innings and call him a ‘one-man army’.
Mayank Agarwal proved to be a one man army. Scored double century against Saurashtra in SF of Ranji Trophy#mayankagarwal #cricket #RanjiTrophy2023 #ranjikarnataka pic.twitter.com/X0ulYIzr2q
— Manoj Joshi (@manojjoshimedia) February 9, 2023
2nd 2️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ for mayank Agarwal this season.This man knows how to score those big hundreds not just 50's 100s. skipper🫡 #MayankAgarwal #INDvsAUS #BGT2023 #RanjiTrophy2023 pic.twitter.com/jO1HDNDfgE
— CcricketBee (@CcricketB) February 9, 2023
What a fighting double century by Mayank Agarwal in the #Ranji semifinals! Full of character and grit! It may well be a match winning knock for #Karnataka! #Cricket
— Venky 🇮🇳 (@venkybengaluru) February 9, 2023
Gotta give it to Mayank Agarwal for that gritty innings! #KARvSAU
— Tushar Salian (@salianthushar) February 9, 2023
Everyone is busy with BGT but Mayank Agarwal playing a gem of innings in Ranji trophy semi finals by scoring 200* !!!#BorderGavaskarTrophy #RanjiTrophy2023 #ranjikarnataka
— Ananth cric (@AnanthCric) February 9, 2023
Double hundred for Mayank Agarwal in Ranji Trophy semifinal, taking forward this first inning all alone.
— DIVYANSH¹⁷ ॐ (@ImDivyansh_17) February 9, 2023
And that’s @mayankcricket ‘s 200… couldn’t have come at a better time.. What a defining innings by the skipper. #RanjiTrophy #KARvSAU pic.twitter.com/GQvlpbS2k4
— Manuja (@manujaveerappa) February 9, 2023
Karnataka were in deep trouble at 112 for 5. But captain Mayank Agarwal batted on and on and on, and has now reached 200. The southern giants have reached 356 for 8. The opener has also toppled Dhruv Shorey to become the highest run-getter this season. #RanjiTrophy #KARvSAU
— Srinjoy Sanyal (@srinjoysanyal07) February 9, 2023
A double century when it mattered the most. Second double-hundred of the season for Mayank Agarwal. A knock that displayed perseverance, patience, and determination.#KARvSAU
— Prajakta (@18prajakta) February 9, 2023
