Mayank Agarwal's maiden triple century breaks Maharashtra

Mayank Agarwal struck his maiden triple century to leave Maharshtra with an improbable task of saving the match in the last day after leading Karnataka to a mammoth 628 for 5 on Day three of a Ranji Trophy Group A match at Pune.

New Delhi: Mayank Agarwal struck his maiden triple century to leave Maharshtra with an improbable task of saving the match in the last day after leading Karnataka to a mammoth 628 for 5 on Day three of a Ranji Trophy Group A match at Pune.

Resuming the day at 219, Agarwal became the third to hit a triple ton in just the fourth round of this season’s Ranji Trophy. Prashant Chopra (338), Hanuma Vihari (302*) are the others.

Agarwal’s unbeaten 304 was laced with 28 fours and four sixes. The Karnataka Premiere League prodigy put on a 279-run fourth wicket stand with captain Karun Nair, who went to score 119.

Agarwal, who was not in the best of forms, coming off a king pair in the previous match, put his head down to tire the Maharashtra bowlers. He pounced on anything loose on his 700-minute stay at the crease.

After Karnataka decided to call their innings off, Maharashtra were jolted by Abhimanyu Mithun, who’s twin strikes crippled their innings.

At stumps, Maharashtra were at 135 for 4, trailing Karnataka by 248 runs. However, their main task would be to bat out the remaining overs in the last day.

Rituraj Gaikwad (61*) and Rahul Tripathi (33*) are at the crease.