By Admin 
On the eve of his team’s Elite Group-B fifth-round Ranji Trophy clash against Karnataka, captain Manan Vohra said Chandigarh’s campaign had faltered because of a misfiring batting unit, urging players to take responsibility.
It seemed only he answered that call on the third day at the KSCA Stadium here on Tuesday. His unbeaten first-innings century (106, 161b, 12×4, 1×6) was the lone act of defiance in two faltering replies, as Chandigarh was bowled out for 222 and 140 in response to Karnataka’s 547 for eight declared.
Winning by an innings and 185 runs, Karnataka bagged seven points.
Bowled him: Shikhar castled Nishunk in the first essay.
It was a day written in revolutions. The spinners wove their spells in tightening loops, coaxing edges, hesitation, and finally capitulation.
Leg-spinner Shreyas Gopal (seven for 73) set the tone immediately, trapping A.K. Kaushik leg-before for zero with the first ball of the day and suddenly finding himself on a hat-trick. Raj Bawa (10) survived the next delivery — the umpire unmoved despite a swell of voices around the bat for a caught-behind. Shreyas soon drew the edge anyway, Bawa nicking behind to give him his tenth First Class five-for and second of the season.
From overs 53.5 to 63.2, the innings unraveled like a seam splitting under quiet pressure. Four wickets fell in that narrow passage — Shreyas had Taranpreet Singh (seven) caught at silly mid-off and Jagjit Singh Sandhu leg-before (zero), while left-arm spinner Shikhar Shetty bowled both Gaurav Puri (32) and Nishunk Birla (nine) through the gate.
Chandigarh’s second innings lasted only long enough to fall apart, as Shikhar claimed his maiden First Class five-for (five for 61). He had opener Shivam Bhambri (43), Vohra (six), and Kaushik (zero) edge to Smaran at slip, Gaurav (13) top-edge a sweep to Abhinav Manohar at short fine leg, and Vishu Kashyap (five) chip to Mohsin Khan at mid-off.
Shreyas took three for 45 to finish with a ten-wicket match haul (10/118).
The scores: Karnataka — 1st innings: 547/8 decl.
Chandigarh — 1st innings: Shivam Bhambri b Shreyas 16, Arjun Azad b Mohsin 32, Vishu Kashyap lbw b Shreyas 5, Manan Vohra (not out) 106, Nikhil Thakur c Shrijith b Shreyas 1, A.K. Kaushik lbw b Shreyas 0, Rajangad Bawa c Shrijith b Shreyas 10, Gaurav Puri b Shikhar 32, Taranpreet Singh c Aneesh b Shreyas 7, Jagjit Singh Sandhu lbw b Shreyas 0, Nishunk Birla b Shikhar 9; Extras (b-4): 4; Total (in 63.2 overs): 222.
Fall of wickets: 1-41, 2-53, 3-58, 4-72, 5-72, 6-104, 7-188, 8-199, 9-201.
Karnataka bowling: Kaverappa 5-1-14-0, Vidyadhar 7-2-34-0, Mohsin 12-0-54-1, Shreyas 23-2-73-7, Shikhar 16.2-3-43-2.
Chandigarh — 2nd innings: Shivam Bhambri c Smaran b Shikhar 43, Arjun Azad c Mohsin b Kaverappa 0, Nikhil Thakur lbw b Shreyas 19, Manan Vohra c Smaran b Shikhar 6, A.K. Kaushik c Smaran b Shikhar 0, Raj Bawa run out 27, Gaurav Puri c Abhinav b Shikhar 13, Taranpreet Singh c Karun b Shreyas 4, Vishu Kashyap c Mohsin b Shikhar 5, Jagjit Singh Sandhu b Shreyas 4, Nishunk Birla (not out) 1; Extras (b-8, lb-10): 18; Total (in 33.5 overs): 140.
Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-65, 3-71, 4-75, 5-95, 6-120, 7-125, 8-130, 9-134.
Karnataka bowling: Kaverappa 4-2-2-1, Vidyadhar 3-1-10-0, Shreyas 13-1-45-3, Shikhar 12.5-2-61-5, Mohsin 1-0-4-0.