Date:21/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/21/stories/2008122155641800.htm

Sport - Cricket

Joshi sparkles in Karnataka’s emphatic victory

Principal Correspondent

— Photo: K. Bhagya Prakash

INCISIVE BOLWING: Karnataka’s Sunil Joshi successfully appeals against Ganesh Gaikwad of Maharashtra along with ‘keeper Thilak Naidu.

Bangalore: Left arm spinner Sunil Joshi’s match haul of 11 wickets, inclusive of a second innings yield of seven for 29, helped Karnataka defeat Maharashtra by 155 runs with a day to spare in the Ranji Trophy super league Group B match at the RSI Ground here on Saturday.

Having suffered an overall deficit of 271 runs, Maharashtra faltered in its second innings and was bowled out for 116 on the third day.

Karnataka grabbed five points and secured the second spot in Group B with 19 points to book a berth in the quarterfinal scheduled at Mumbai from December 26.

Akhil on song

Resuming its second innings at the overnight 131 for five, Karnataka found impetus through the 94-run sixth-wicket partnership between B. Akhil (62, 113b, 10x4) and C. Raghu.

Akhil remained positive on a pitch that tested a batsman’s mettle against the spinners. However, after Raghu was dismissed, Akhil got bogged down while Joshi (35), relishing his 100th Ranji match, smashed his first ball from left-arm spinner Enamul Haque for four and ensured that the target was beyond Maharashtra’s reach.

The Maharashtra second innings was a tale of abject surrender as Joshi bowled with control and guile while the catching remained sharp as evident in the efforts of K.B. Pawan and K.P. Appanna.

Fittingly Joshi scalped the final wicket of Haque as team-mates and fans converged on him.

The scores: Karnataka — 1st innings: 252.

Maharashtra — 1st innings: 210.

Karnataka — 2nd innings: K.B. Pawan c Agarkar b Gaikwad 23, R. Uthappa b Agarkar 12, C.M. Gautam c Shilamkar b Gaikwad 26, D. Chougule lbw b Agarkar 15, Thilak Naidu c Jadhav b Gaikwad 3, C. Raghu c Motwani b Enamul Haque 27, B. Akhil c Shrikhande b Haque 62, S. Joshi c Khadiwale b Agarkar 35, Vinay Kumar c Khadiwale b Haque 6, N.C. Aiyappa c Jadhav b Agarkar 0, K.P. Appanna (not out) 1; Extras: (b-11, lb-1, nb-7) 19; Total: (in 70.3 overs) 229.

Fall of wickets: 1-35, 2-50, 3-82, 4-90, 5-92, 6-186, 7-205, 8-221, 9-226.

Maharashtra bowling: Fallah 4-0-14-0, Agarkar 24.3-9-56-4, Mangela 1-0-7-0, Haque 22-4-67-3, Gaikwad 18-3-65-3, Jadhav 1-0-8-0.

Maharashtra — 2nd innings: H. Khadiwale b Joshi 2, R. Bhosale c Pawan b Joshi 17, A. Shrikhande c Akhil b Joshi 0, K. Jadhav b Appanna 0, D. Shilamkar c Appanna b Joshi 25, G. Gaikwad lbw b Joshi 1, R. Motwani (not out) 30, S. Agarkar lbw b Raghu 25, M. Mangela lbw b Appanna 3, S. Fallah c Uthappa b Joshi 3, E. Haque c Pawan b Joshi 0; Extras: (b-9, lb-1) 10; Total: (in 36.5 overs) 116.

Fall of wickets: 1-11, 2-11, 3-12, 4-36, 5-46, 6-61, 7-98, 8-107, 9-116.

Karnataka bowling: Vinay 1-0-2-0, Aiyappa 1-1-0-0, Appanna 13-1-47-2, Joshi 13.5-3-29-7, Raghu 8-0-28-1.