In the ongoing semi-final of the 2019/20 Ranji Trophy, Karnataka opener KL Rahul lost his wicket on the second ball of the fourth innings, and he was hugely disappointed after the umpire rejected his review.
Bengal and Karnataka are facing each other in one of the semi-finals of the tournament at Eden Gardens (Kolkata). Though Karnataka started well in this match, Bengal have gradually moved into the stronger position in this game.
KL Rahul scored a duck
Chasing down the challenging 352 runs target in the fourth innings, it was important for Karnataka to get a good start with the opening partnership between KL Rahul and Ravikumar Samarth. However, Rahul was hugely disappointed by losing his wicket on the very second ball of that fourth innings without opening his account.
Facing Bengal’s young pacer Ishan Porel on that delivery, KL Rahul lately decided to leave outside the off-stump delivery but taking the guard of his off-stump. However, it turned out a lethal inswinger that fooled the Indian cricketer and hit on his frontfoot while he was in the position to leave that ball.
As KL Rahul was not offering any shot on that ball, the outside the off-stump impact couldn’t be the barrier for the bowling side. While the Bengal players made a strong appeal, the bowling-end umpire raised his finger.
The BCCI has allowed the review system in the semi-finals of the ongoing Ranji Trophy. But when KL Rahul decided to take a review, the umpire didn’t allow him for that review as Rahul didn’t offer any shot. The Karnataka opener hugely surprised and left the field with the disappointed body language by shaking his head. At the stumps of day three, Karnataka were struggling on 98/3, and they still needed to score 254 runs to win the match.
Here is that video:
Ranji Trophy 2019-20: Bengal vs Karnataka, SF2 – Porel gets the big wicket of KL Rahul https://t.co/LnYXzcDNV7
— Sandipan Ghosh (@SANDIPANGHOSH39) March 2, 2020
Earlier, in this match, when Bengal scored 312 runs in their first innings, thanks to the heroic century from Anustup Majumdar (149*), Karnataka replied with just 122 runs. During their first innings, KL Rahul scored 26 runs. On the other hand, Ishan Porel (5/39) bagged five wickets in that innings.
In their second innings, Bengal were bundled out for 161 runs and set the 352 runs target for Karnataka in the fourth innings of the match.
Saurashtra and Gujarat are facing each other in the other semi-final of this tournament at Rajkot. At the stumps of day three, Saurashtra (304 & 66/5) are leading 118 runs in their middle of the second innings (Gujarat 252).