Hubballi: Jammu and Kashmir’s Auqib Nabi (PTI Photo/Shailendra Bhojak)

Hubballi: A surface that had appeared lifeless for most of the first two days sprang to life on Thursday, not because of any change in conditions, but due to the quality of bowling. Unlike Karnataka’s attack, which needed 173.1 overs to dismiss Jammu and Kashmir for an imposing 584 in the first innings, the visitors required just 48.2 overs and 235 minutes to remove half of the home side’s batting line-up. At stumps on Day 3 of the Ranji Trophy final at the KSCA Rajnagar Stadium here, Karnataka were 220/5 in 69 overs, thanks largely to an unbeaten 130 from opener Mayank Agarwal. The eight-time champions, trailing by 364 runs, now require a monumental batting effort from the remaining line-up to stay in contention. The J&K bowlers, on their part, made the red cherry swing, bowled on the stumps and off the seam. They ticked boxes which the more experienced Karnataka line-up failed even to see. Leading the charge was strike bowler Auqib Nabi (3/32), who combined accuracy with intensity. When the battle lines for the title tilt were drawn, much of the discussion had centred on Nabi’s duel with a Karnataka top order that has four Test batters in the mix, and the seamer lived up to expectations. In a decisive passage of play spanning four overs on either side of lunch, Nabi removed KL Rahul, Karun Nair and the season’s highest run-getter R Smaran, each dismissal coming off deliveries that extracted life from an otherwise docile surface. Opening the bowling, Nabi immediately put Rahul under pressure with probing full-length deliveries, occasionally mixing in the short ball. Rahul needed 15 deliveries to get off the mark before briefly finding rhythm with two boundaries off Sunil Kumar. Nabi eventually had the last word, producing a delivery that moved late to take a faint edge through to wicketkeeper Kanhaiya Wadhawan. Sunil struck soon after, dismissing Karnataka skipper Devdutt Padikkal. Rooted to the crease, Padikkal poked tentatively outside off stump, and Abdul Samad completed the catch in the slips. Karun Nair followed almost immediately, falling to a peach of a delivery. Nabi angled one in sharply and Karun misjudged the line, the ball crashing into his off stump. Nabi then completed a devastating spell by removing Smaran, whose uncertain push at a back-of-a-length delivery resulted in an outside edge that Wadhawan safely pouched. Reduced to 57/4, Karnataka were firmly on the back foot, and the packed stadium went silent, barring the celebrations and chirping from the J&K side. Amid the collapse, Mayank stood tall. The opener remained composed despite the carnage around him and focused on the long task ahead. More assured than his teammates, he countered the swing by getting well forward and worked the ball into gaps to ease the pressure on the scoreboard. Shreyas Gopal (27) provided support in a steady partnership before being trapped leg before wicket by Yudhvir Singh. Wicketkeeper Kruthik Krishna (27 batting) then joined Mayank, and the pair ensured Karnataka reached stumps without further damage. With a massive first-innings deficit still looming, the home team’s hopes hinge on whether Mayank and the lower order can pull off a heist. Earlier, J&K, who started the day at 527/6, added 57 runs to their tally before being dismissed for 584. Pacer Prasidh Krishna finished with a five-wicket haul (5/98).

UD Almería head coach Rubi said Cristiano Ronaldo would be welcome with open arms if he decides to play for the club irrespective of who the coach is. Rubi’s remarks came after Ronaldo acquired a 25% stake in the ownership of the Segunda Division club.

On Thursday, February 26, UD Almeria confirmed in an official statement that Cristiano Ronaldo became a minority shareholder of the club through his CR7 Sports Investment company. The Al-Nassr forward has enjoyed quite a journeyman move throughout his professional career. Ronaldo has in the past expressed his desire to own a football club once he retires.

Despite turning 41 earlier this month, Rubi believes it would be ‘extraordinary and wonderful’ if Ronaldo decides to play for UD Almeria before he hangs up his boots. Asked if Ronaldo could one day play for the club, Rubi said:

“That’s a question for him, but it would be extraordinary and wonderful. This is his club, and if he wants to continue playing, regardless of who the coach would be, he’d welcome him with open arms. I have no doubt about that.”

Almeria are on course to gain promotion to the Spanish top flight, as they currently sit third in the Spanish Segunda Division table, two points behind leaders Racing Santander after 27 games.

Cristiano Ronaldo signed a two-year contract extension with his current club, Al-Nassr, in 2025. The deal will see him stay with the Saudi Pro League club beyond his 42nd birthday. It remains to be seen if the former Manchester United and Real Madrid man will make a surprise switch to UD Almeria.