Hubballi (PTI): Jammu and Kashmir inched closer to a historic maiden Ranji Trophy title triumph after taking a massive first-innings lead against Karnataka on the fourth and penultimate day of summit showdown here Friday.
Replying to Jammu and Kashmir's first innings total of 584, Karnataka were all out for 293 to hand the determined visitors a lead of 291 runs.
By stumps, Jammu and Kashmir, who decided not to enforce follow-on, consolidated their position and stretched their overall lead over Karnataka to 477 runs, having reached 186 for four in their second innings.
Opener Qamran Iqbal was batting on 94 at close of play and Sahil Lotra was unbeaten on 16.
Karnataka's performance with the bat was a far cry from the collective effort by J&K as, barring seasoned opener Mayank Agarwal's defiant 160-run knock, none of the home team batters made any significant contributions.
Having rocked the star-studded home team with his pace on the third day, India's latest pace sensation Auqib Nabi ended with excellent figures of 5/54 in 23 overs to continue his superb run of form this season that has got the country talking and the national selectors take note of his exploits.
Brief Scores:
Jammu and Kashmir 584 and 186 for 4 in 57 overs (Qamran Iqbal batting 94).
Karnataka 1st innings: 293 all out in 93.3 overs (Mayank Agarwal 160; Auqib Nabi 5/54).
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Tiptur: A 24-year-old rider was killed on the spot in a head-on collision between his motorbike and a car near Bidiregudi of Kasaba hobli in the taluk.
The deceased rider, Vijay Kumar, was a resident of BL Koppalu Basaveshwara Nagara in Kasaba hobli, Arsikere taluk.
He was reportedly returning home after work at a welding factory near TM Manjunath Nagar Gate, Tiptur, when a car coming from the opposite direction collided with his bike near Bidiregudi. Vijay Kumar is said to have died at the spot due to the impact of the collision.
Locals have blamed the lack of signboards and other precautionary measures amid the construction of a four-lane national highway in the area, mainly between Bidiregudi and Konehalli. They have said that the carelessness of the National Highway Authorities of India (NHAI) has led to frequent accidents in the region.
“A meeting of officers from various government departments, including the police, was held recently under the chairmanship of the local legislator, but several NHAI officials were reportedly absent. Despite the meeting, officials appear careless in implementing safety measures, leading to a rise in accidents,” the locals said, demanding immediate action from the concerned authorities.
