Karun Nair returned to haunt Kerala with a century for Karnataka on Day 1 of a Ranji Trophy match at Mangalapuram in Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday.

Back with his home association, Bengaluru-Malayali Karun reached his century in the post Tea session. At the end of the day, Karun remained unbeaten at 142 off 251 deliveries, with the Karnataka total at 319/3 in 90 overs.

Kerala made a brilliant start by removing Mayank Agarwal (5) and Aneesh K V (8), leaving the visitors reeling at 13/2, before Karun and K L Shrijith forged a 123-run partnership. 

Baba Aparajith dismissed Shrijith for 65, but Karun got another quality partnership going with Smaran R, who reached his half-century shortly after Tea. Both of them forged a 183-run partnership, with Samaran at the crease with 88 off 143. 

Karun represented Vidarbha last season and was one of their stars of the Ranji Trophy final against Kerala. He scored a timely 86 in the first innings, which ensured the decisive lead for Vidarbha, and followed it up with a fine 135 in the second innings to deny Kerala the Ranji Trophy title.

Kerala has managed only two points from their first two rounds this season. In the drawn fixtures against Maharashtra and Punjab, Kerala conceded the lead.

The home team, led by Mohammed Azharuddeen, is without star batter Sanju Samson, who is with Team India for a five-match T20I series in Australia.

Brief Scores: Karnataka 319/3 in 90 overs (Karun Nair 142 not out, Smaran R 88 not out, K L Shrijith 65, Nidheesh M D 1/41, N P Basil 1/58, Baba Aparajith 1/65)