Date:29/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/29/stories/2008122956271600.htm

Sport - Cricket

Karnataka has the edge

Nandakumar Marar

— Photo: Vivek Bendre

GOOD KNOCK: B. Akhil propped up Karnataka’s lead with a half-century.

MUMBAI: B. Akhil led the charge with a free-stroking 56 off 127 balls and Rahul Dravid’s survival skills were put to the test in a careful compilation of 52 off 116 balls on an exciting third day’s play in the Ranji Trophy quarterfinal knockout game at the Brabourne stadium.

Karnataka had wrested the first-innings lead worth 116 runs by bowling out Saurashtra for 189 earlier, then found the two batsmen willing to take up the challenge in the second innings on a lively wicket, resulting in 208 on the board.

The match moves into the decisive fourth day with Saurashtra, chasing 324 to win outright, lost two wickets for 10 at close. Run-making is not easy on the track offering help for pace and spin.

Saurashtra bowlers turned the heat in an all-out effort after having lost the race for first innings lead early on day three. Left-arm fast bowler Sandeep Jobanputra’s early blows and left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja’s knack of teasing the batsmen with turn meant batting continued to be hazardous.

Sensible play

Robin Uthappa’s early exit, walking across to tackle Jobanputra and finding his leg stumps uprooted, meant the responsibility was on Dravid to guide his team to a fighting total.

The India batsman displayed decisive footwork and excellent judgement of line from the outset against swing bowlers. C. Raghu grew in confidence as the two put on 68 runs for the fourth wicket.

With wickets falling at the other end, Dravid opted for sensible play against Jobanputra and Jadeja. A mistimed pull against Jobanputra ended his knock, thrusting Akhil into the spotlight against a charged-up Saurashtra.

The in-form Karnataka number seven went on to play a delightful knock, smashing seven effortless boundaries in 199 balls before becoming one of five Jobanputra victims. Jadeja chipped in with four strikes for a match haul of nine wickets. Saurashtra will look up to this talented and hard-hitting all-rounder to lend his might with the bat on the final day.

The scores:

Karnataka — 1st innings: 305.

Saurashtra — 1st innings: C. Pathak c Naidu b Vinaykumar 24, B. Chauhan c Dravid b Joshi 24, S. Kotak c Naidu b Vinaykumar 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 (not out) 13, J. Odedra c Naidu b Aravind 5; Extras (b-4, lb-4) 8. Total (in 79 overs) 189.

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

Karnataka bowling: R. Vinaykumar 18-4-52-2, N. Aiyappa 7-1-41-0, S. Aravind 20-10-31-2, S. Joshi 24-10-32-2, C. Raghu 6-5-8-2, B. Akhil 4-1-17-1.

Karnataka — 2nd innings: K. Pawan c Jogiyani b Jobanputra 0, R. Uthappa b Jobanputra 5, C. Gautam c Kotak b Odedra 26, R. Dravid c Pujara b Jobanputra 52, C. Raghu c Kotak b R Jadeja 41, T. Naidu c Pujara b R. Jadeja 1, B. Akhil c Jogiyani b Jobanputra 56, S. Joshi c Jogiyani b Jobanputra 4, R. Vinaykumar c Kotak b R Jadeja 12, S. Aravind c Shah b R. Jadeja 3, N.C. Aiyappa (not out) 0; Extras (b-5, lb-1, nb-1, w-1) 8. Total (in 80.1 overs) 208.

Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-13, 3-43, 4-111, 5-117, 6-133, 7-137, 8-165, 9-202.

Saurashtra bowling: S. Jobanputra 22.1-4-54-5, B. Jadeja 8-1-24-0, J. Odedra 17-6-39-1, R. Jadeja 26-5-58-4, K. Makwana 7-1-27-0.

Saurashtra — 2nd innings: C. Pathak c Naidu b Vinaykumar 0, B. Chauhan (batting) 6, K. Makwana c Naidu b Vinaykumar 0, S. Kotak (batting) 0. Extras (b-4) 4. Total (for two wkts. in three overs) 10.

Fall of wickets: 1-4, 2-4.

Karnataka bowling: R Vinaykumar 2-1-1-2, S Aravind 1-0-5-0.