Bengaluru: Karnataka face an uphill task as they need 139 runs with seven wickets in hand in their Ranji Trophy quarterfinal against Rajasthan.
The hosts were 45 for three at stumps on day three that saw 13 wickets fall. Nightwatchman Ronit More and Karun Nair will resume Karnataka's quest on day four.
For Rajasthan, Aniket Chaudhary struck twice and Mahipal Lomror took a wicket just before stumps.
At the beginning, the target of 184 looked gettable but Karnataka got off to a disastrous start. They lost opener Nischal Dega, castled by Aniket Chaudhary, in the second over.
They were reduced to 14 for two when in-form batsman KV Siddharth edged to wicket-keeper off an incoming delivery by Aniket.
Opener Ravikumar Samarth and Karun were on course to steady the ship but Lomror trapped Samarth (16) with just two overs to for stumps.
Ronit came as a nightwatchman and rightly performed his duties. All eyes will be on Karun on day four.
