Vinay Kumar Emulates Vijay Hazare as Karun Nair Breaks Ranji Record

Karnataka skipper Vinay Kumar scored a century on the fourth day of the Ranji Trophy final against Tamil Nadu on Wednesday at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. In doing so he became only the second person to take five wickets and hit a hundred in a Ranji Trophy title clash after Vijay Hazare, who took 6 for 85 and hit 288 for Baroda against Holkar in the 1946-47 final. As fate would have it, Vinay did so on Hazare's 100th birthday - a fitting tribute indeed. (Ranji Trophy Final: Day 4 Report)

Vinay had picked up five for 34 in Tamil Nadu's first innings on Day one. His effort was instrumental in skittling them out for a mere 134. Resuming on 41 at the start of the fourth day's play, Vinay went on to score an unbeaten 105 off 319 balls to help Karnataka post a mammoth 762 runs in their first innings. He also became the first skipper to achieve the double of a five-wicket haul and a ton in a Ranji final.

The 31-year-old has been in good form with the ball this domestic season. Perhaps it is a way of telling the national selectors that he is still an international candidate. Vinay has not played in any format for India since 2013.

Earlier in the day, Karun Nair went on to erase Gul Mohammed's long-standing record for the highest individual score in a Ranji Trophy final -- 319 for Baroda against Holkar 68 years ago. The next target in his sights was going past Lokesh Rahul's 337 and becoming Karnataka's highest individual scorer. However, it was not to be as Vijay Shankar removed him for 328 (560 balls). Nair, in the course of his innings had broken Gundappa Viswanath's 247 against Uttar Pradesh in 1977-78 for the highest score by a No. 6 batsman.

Contributions by Lokesh Rahul (188), followed by the knocks by Nair and Vinay propelled Karnataka to 762 -- second-highest in a Ranji final, behind Baroda's 784 against Holkar in 1946-47. Tamil Nadu were 113 for three in their second innings, still trailing by 515 runs, at the close of fourth day's play. Having already retained the title by virtue of their huge first innings lead, defending champions will be aiming for an innings victory.

Even if the match ends in a draw Vinay & Co. would retain the title -- Karnataka's eighth Ranji crown.