Date:28/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/28/stories/2008122856831400.htm

Sport - Cricket

Karnataka in the driver’s seat

Nandakumar Marar

— Photo: Vivek Bendre

DELIGHTED: Karnataka’s R. Vinay Kumar celebrates the dismissal of Sitanshu Kotak of Saurashtra on Saturday.

MUMBAI: Saurashtra frittered away the advantage when the Karnataka tailenders stretched the first innings score to 305 on the second of the four-day Ranji Trophy quarterfinal knockout game. The value of R. Vinay Kumar’s 48 off 109 balls at No. 9 will be known only in the later stages.

Saurashtra trails by 122 runs at 183 for nine with two days remaining. All-rounder Ravindra Jadeja’s bold methods fetched him 38 off 74 balls.

Vinay Kumar was the second highest contributor for Karnataka (after opener Robin Uthappa’s 139), surviving on a turning track for 128 minutes. Armed with the new ball, he had further shocks in store for Saurashtra by deceiving Chirag Pathak with swing and the wicketkeeper Thilak Naidu did not make any mistake with the catch.

Naidu again pouched a snick off Vinay Kumar, this time it was Sitanshu Kotak (11 runs, 63 balls).

Vital blow

Karnataka debutant S. Aravind, who kept Naidu busy behind the stumps with two-way movement, struck a vital blow in his second spell by removing Cheteshwar Pujara.

Saurashtra’s most successful batsman this season was surprised by an outswinger for the wicket-keeper to grab his third catch. Pujara lasted seven balls, making just one run.

The spinners were already on the job after a lucky break in the form of Ravindra Jadeja’s run out. Veteran left-arm spinner Sunil Joshi (24-10-32-2) and off-spinner C. Raghu (6-5-8-2) kept a tight line and preyed on the batsmen’s frustrations.

Opener Chauhan failed to counter the turn against Joshi, snicking to Rahul Dravid at slip. Sagar Jogiyani smashed towards mid-wicket for Gautam to catch overhead at full stretch.

Quick strikes

Raghu rocked Saurashtra with two quick strikes, Kamlesh Makwana trapped leg-before and then Sandeep Jobanputra stepped back to chop the ball onto the stumps.

The scores:

Karnataka — 1st innings: K. Pawan c R. Jadeja b Odedra 21, R. Uthappa lbw b R. Jadeja 139, C. Gautam b Odedra 7, R. Dravid c Jogiyani b R. Jadeja 26, C. Raghu lbw b R. Jadeja 0, T. Naidu lbw b R. Jadeja 7, B. Akhil b R. Jadeja 11, S. Joshi lbw b Makwana 23, R. Vinay Kumar c B. Jadeja b Jobanputra 48, S. Aravind b Odedra 7, N. Aiyappa (not out) 0, Extras (b-4, lb-5, nb-6, w-1) 16; Total (in 99.5 overs) 305.

Fall of wickets: 1-53, 2-86, 3-176, 4-176, 5-186, 6-219, 7-220, 8-260, 9-299.

Saurashtra bowling: Jobanputra 9.5-0-45-1, B. Jadeja 19-4-70-0, Odedra 28-8-68-3, R. Jadeja 32-8-82-5, Makwana 11-2-31-1.

Saurashtra — 1st innings: C. Pathak c Naidu b Vinay Kumar 24, B. Chauhan c Dravid b Joshi 24, S. Kotak c Naidu b Vinay Kumar 11, C. Pujara c Naidu b Aravind 1, R. Jadeja (run out) 38, J. Shah b Akhil 1, S. Jogiyani c Gautam b Joshi 30, K. Makwana lbw b Raghu 18, S. Jobanputra b Raghu 16, B. Jadeja (batting) 7, J. Odedra (batting) 5, Extras (b-4, lb-4) 8; Total (for nine wkts. in 77 overs) 183.

Fall of wickets: 1-32, 2-51, 3-56, 4-70, 5-85, 6-123, 7-142, 8-168, 9-171.

Karnataka bowling: Vinay Kumar 17-4-46-2, Aiyappa 7-1-41-0, Aravind 19-9-31-1, Joshi 24-10-32-2, Raghu 6-5-8-2, Akhil 4-1-17-1.