New Delhi, Nov. 13: Karnataka dominated their Ranji Trophy Super League Group B tie against Delhi but couldn’t beat the weather on the final day. Chasing a modest 172 to win from a possible 57 overs at the Roshanara Club grounds, the visitors were 23 runs short when bad light ended play with 19 overs left and settled for three points for the first innings lead.

Manish Pandey launched a stunning assault in the final session on Friday as the visitors made a spirited charge for the target. The T20 star smashed a fifty off just 44 deliveries — with five fours and a six — on a pitch where all the other batsmen had struggled to push the scoring along.

The 20-year-old came in to bat at the stroke of tea, after Karnataka opener K.B. Pawan was dismissed for a laborious 29 off 73 balls (3x4).

Skipper Rahul Dravid (5) departed soon after, with Karnataka struggling at 60/4 and the hosts were fancying their chances of going for an outright win in the match.

Pandey prospered in the company of wicketkeeper Tilak Naidu (22, 23b, 4x4), putting on 46 runs for the fifth wicket in just seven overs.

The Royal Challengers Bangalore opener singled out debutant left-arm seamer Pawan Suyal for special treatment, hammering him for three fours and a six over square-leg in an expensive eight-over spell.

With the match rapidly swinging in the favour of the visitors, the rub of the green finally went Delhi’s way as Pandey ran himself out. Karnataka were still in with a chance with 23 needed in 19 overs but with fading light, the umpires decided to walk off the field.

"There were just 23 runs left and I wish the umpires had pushed a bit. We were denied two points from this match," Dravid said after the match. Earlier, Delhi’s chance to escape with a draw brightened on a gloomy day when the entire first session was washed out due to rain. The hosts benefited from Awana’s 17-ball 21 (4x4) to post 277 before S. Arvind picked up his fifth wicket to bring an end to the innings.