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Padikkal scored his maiden first-class century, an unbeaten 161 as Karnataka ended the first day of their Ranji Trophy Elite Group C match against Pondicherry at 293 for 3.
Sent to bat by Pondicherry captain D Rohit, Karnataka were reduced to 39 for 2 in the 19th over, losing to openers R Samarth (11) and Karun Nair (6) to Asith Rajeev (2 for 37) Went.
Padikkal took up the rescue and went for 47 as Karnataka were 88 for 2 in the lunch. The big-hitting batsmen were in full flow in the second session as he and KV Siddharth (85) smashed the opposition bowlers with swords.
It was a tough one for the Pondicherry bowlers as medium-pacer Ashit Rajeev consistently delivered two opening strikes to dismiss Samarth and Nair.
Neither bowler could impress as Stylish Padikkal and Siddharth scored 204 for 2 in 61 overs over tea. Meanwhile Padikkal had reached his maiden first-class ton. His innings so far came in 277 balls, which included 20 fours and two sixes.
He continued to score and shared a 357-ball 223 partnership with Siddharth for the third wicket, which put Karnataka in control.
Skipper Manish Pandey, who replaced Siddharth at the crease, is batting on 21 and has so far added 31 runs with the left-hander Padikkal.
In the second match of the group, they were bowled out for 258 against Jammu and Kashmir Railways, with Kamran Iqbal scoring 83 runs.
Captain and leg-spinner Karn Sharma took 6 wickets for 76 runs for Railways.
Meanwhile, Chirag Jani scored a brilliant 140 and Sheldon Jackson scored an unbeaten 96 as Saurashtra were bowled out for 343 for 7 at stumps on the first day of their Ranji Trophy Group D match against Goa here on Thursday. Chirag hit 22 fours and two sixes in his 190-ball knock after Saurashtra decided to bat first at the Narendra Modi Stadium here, while Jackson hit six fours and five sixes during his unfinished 119-ball knock.
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