Tamil Nadu's long wait for a Ranji Trophy title will have to continue. A massive first innings lead of 326 has virtually sealed Rajasthan's title defence. Resuming at a shaky 66 for three, Tamil Nadu folded for 295.

Dinesh Karthik shone alone with a fine innings of 150 (422m, 280b, 21x4, 1x6). Rituraj Singh was Rajasthan's hero picking four wickets and effecting the run out of R. Prasanna.

Rajasthan decided not to enforce the follow-on and had progressed to 21 without loss in their second innings at stumps.

Resuming at 66 for three, Tamil Nadu's task was near impossible. The unnecessary mix up between Prasanna and Karthik and two horrendous decisions from umpire Vineet Kulkarni robbed the game of the little competitive charm the game had on offer.

The only solace for TN was the bright knock by Karthik who prove his class with an array of sizzling drives and cuts.

The early fall of K. Shri Vasudeva Das ensured the hosts had their backs to the wall straightaway. The casual flick was not only poor shot selection, it also showed a lack of intent on the batsman to graft for runs.

On a wicket where the ball stopped on the batsman, Vasudeva Das deciding to play across the line only showed poor cricketing nous.

R. Prasanna who had lifted the team out of trouble against Mumbai in the semi-final did not look assured at the start but grew quietly confident.

Taking a heavy toll against the friendly spin of Gajendra Singh the southpaw went past Karthik with a string of boundaries.

The partnership looked like giving some respectability when the batsmen collided mid pitch, Prasanna dived in vain to reach only to be left inches short. The stand was worth 76 runs.

From that point on it looked more a matter of time for the innings to end. Against the run of play Karthik entertained the crowd with some stunning shots.

He made Rajasthan pay for the easy catch Sumeeth Mathur put down at covers off Gagender Singh; Karthik was on 84 at that stage.

Driving elegantly both in front and square of the wicket, Karthik moved quickly to his second hundred in a final. Yo Mahesh was unlucky to be adjudged leg-before when the ball was clearly going down the leg side.

The bigger blunder came when L. Balaji was given out lbw when he had inside edged the ball to the boundary.

The partnership between Balaji and Karthik was worth 60 runs and one that looked good for more. The anguish on Balaji's face was understandable. Karthik prospered with J. Kaushik for company and reached his 150 inn style before chopping a ball from Sumit Mathur on to the stumps.

Determined karthik stands tall amidst ruins

For Dinesh Karthik it was second time unlucky. As a teenager with no reputation to defend, Karthik waltzed a hundred against Mumbai (2003-04), an innings that heralded his inclusion in the national team. On Sunday Karthik decided to take the route he has travelled less.

The last second adjustment on a slow track signified his growth as a batsman and the abundant quality he brings to the crease. It was tough grind for Karthik and he would be better for the experience.
“This hundred was tougher than the one against Mumbai as that was on a first day wicket.

This was not a wicket you enjoy batting on. One has to accumulate runs,” said Karthik. As far his preparation for the final, Karthik noted that it was similar to the other games.

Karthik during the course of his 16th first-class hundred also crossed the 3000-run mark in Ranji Trophy.

Tamil Nadu’s progress this season was fairly smooth and the team was expected to finally break the jinx. Karthik did not hide his disappointment.

“Given our strength we are disappointed. Deep down we know we are better team than what scoreline suggests. All of our top batsmen are hurt.

But it’s unfair that when the opponent bats the track is flat but when we get to bat the ball keeps low. At the same time hats off to the Rajasthan bowlers who stuck to their task and kept bowling at the stumps,” explained Karthik.

Karthik heaped high praise on Rajasthan’s batsmen for their application but also added that the game was decided by the toss. “People were saying we were not good enough for the big matches but we stood out in the two knockout games this season.

On a personal level this knock should help me but it was my dream to win the Ranji Trophy and unfortunately we have fallen short twice,” concluded Karthik.

The effort was also indicative of Karthik’s supreme fitness. After donning the big gloves for nearly three days, Karthik showed no ill effects while at the crease. A case to consider for the national selectors.

SCORECARD

Rajasthan (1st innings): 621.

Tamil Nadu (1st innings): Abhinav Mukund lbw b Rituraj 0, M. Vijay c Yadav b Rituraj 15, S. Badrinath lbw b Pankaj 6, KD Karthik b Mathur 150, K. Shri Vasudeva Das c Gajendra b Rituraj 25, R. Prasanna (run out) 44, Sunny Gupta st Yagnik b Gajendra 6, Yo Mahesh lbw b Pankaj 0, L. Balaji lbw b Rituraj 29, J. Kaushik c Pankaj b Mathur 6, R. Aushik (not out) 2.

Extras (b3, lb8, w1) 12. Total (in 102.4 overs) 295.FoW: 1-0, 2-12, 3-24, 4-71, 5-147, 6-164, 7-167, 8-227, 9-292.

Bowling: Pankaj 25-7-58-2, Rituraj 26-5-76-4, Mathur 25.4-8-53-2, Gajendra Singh 26-5-97-1.

Rajasthan (2nd innings): A. Chopra (batting) 10, V. Saxena (batting) 10.

Extras (nb1) 1. Total (for no loss in seven overs) 21.Bowling: Kaushik 3-1-8-0, Yo Mahesh 3-1-12-0, Aushik Srinivas 1-0-1-0.