Karnataka fluffed a gilt-edged opportunity to secure the first-innings lead as it allowed the Saurashtra tail to add 46 runs for the last two wickets on day three of their Ranji Trophy match at the Alur Grounds near here on Tuesday.

In pursuit of the hosts’ 342, Saurashtra was 303 for eight, only for Parth Bhut (28, 37b, 4x4) and Jaydev Unadkat (11, 25b) to combine for a 40-run partnership to go past Karnataka and eventually finish seven runs ahead.

That association between Bhut and Unadkat ended tragicomically as the former, after completing the first run that fetched the lead, set off for the second with a celebratory raised fist. Unadkat at the other end did not respond, resulting in Bhut’s run out.

But that was largely academic, for the visitors had managed to hoodwink Karnataka. In fact, it was a repeat of last year’s opening fixture wherein Saurashtra’s last two wickets scored 58 to deny Karnataka the first-innings bragging rights.

Having obtained just one point from its opener against Andhra last week, the home side now has to aggressively seek an outright victory. For that, it has to build quickly on the 92-run lead it is sitting on — with eight wickets left — and give itself adequate time to bowl Saurashtra out on the final day.

With Mayank Agarwal not taking strike owing to a finger injury sustained while fielding, K.V. Aneesh opened and scored 37 confident runs (60b, 5x4). Even though he has the in-form Karun Nair for company (19 batting, 46b, 2x4), Karnataka has its task cut out.

During the first half of the day, fortunes swung back and forth. Overnight batter Prerak Mankad was out early, caught behind off speedster V. Vyshak. But Arpit Vasavada (65, 177b, 5x4) and Sammar Gajjar (79, 121b, 12x4) came together for 125 runs for the sixth wicket.

Vasavada, 37, has long been Karnataka’s nemesis, having scored 644 runs from 14 innings leading into this contest. Gajjar, 23, emerged as the new tormentor-in-chief, picking boundaries at will with his immaculate timing.

Karnataka was also shoddy on the field, reprieving Gajjar thrice. Skipper Shreyas Gopal dropped him off his own bowling, a piece of action that culminated with a plaster on the leggie’s left palm. Substitute Nikin Jose grassed one at slip before another stand-in fielder Shikhar Shetty let go of a run-out opportunity from close range.

Vidwath Kaverappa and Vyshak, however, brought Karnataka back into the game, taking three wickets for five runs to reduce Saurashtra from 298 for five to 303 for eight. Kaverappa operated at full tilt, a heartening sight for the home dressing room after the pacer had left the field on Monday holding his right calf.

But Bhut and Unadkat thwarted Karnataka’s best-laid plans.

The scores: Karnataka — 1st innings: 342 in 111.3 overs

Saurashtra — 1st innings: Hetvik Kotak c Aneeshwar b Vyshak 46, Harvik Desai c Shrijith Kaverappa 77, Chirag Jani b Abhilash 1, Jay Gohil c Manvanth b Abhilash 0, Arpit Vasavada b Kaverappa 65, Prerak Mankad c Shrijith b Vyshak 20, Sammar Gajjar lbw b Kaverappa 79, Parth Bhut run out 28, Chetan Sakariya c Shrijith b Kaverappa 1, Jaydev Unadkat lbw b Shreyas 11, Ankur Panwar (not out) 6; Extras (b-4, lb-5, w-4, nb-2): 15; Total (in 108.3 overs): 349.

Fall of wickets: 1-110, 2-113, 3-115, 4-128, 5-173, 6-298, 7-301, 8-303, 9-343.

Karnataka bowling: Kaverappa 20.1-5-57-4, Vyshak 22-3-84-2, Abhilash 25.5-7-63-2, Manvanth 16-1-57-0, Shreyas 19.3-2-55-1, Karun 4-0-19-0, Aneeshwar 1-0-5-0.

Karnataka — 2nd innings: K.V. Aneesh (batting) 37, Rohan Patil c Sakariya b Panwar 38, Aneeshwar Gautam c Prerak b Bhut 3, Karun Nair (batting) 19; Extras (lb-2): 2; Total (for two wkts. in 26 overs): 99.

Fall of wickets: 1-45, 2-56.