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Tuesday, Dec 19, 2006
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Karnataka in command

Special Correspondent

Thilak Naidu scores a sensational hundred

CENTURION: Thilak Naidu sends one to the fence. — Photo: S. Subramanium

NEW DELHI: Thilak Naidu was quick to dedicate his thunderous century to his father as his effort, along with B. Akhil's spell, placed Karnataka in a commanding position on the second day of the Ranji Trophy Super League match against Delhi at the Ferozeshah Kotla here on Monday.

The ebullient Naidu, ever on the lookout to make a mark, savaged the Delhi attack with a sensational assault — 122 off 123 balls with 21 fours and one six. Karnataka, resuming at 299 for three, faltered in the morning to lose Robin Uthappa (161) and Yere Goud (26), who did not add to their overnight score. However Naidu's clinical batting left the Delhi bowlers embarrassed at home. At close, Delhi, 14 for four at one stage, was gasping at 103 for five.

Entertaining knock

"I just wanted to enjoy my batting," Naidu was honest. "I never thought of a century," he was being realistic. At 338 for eight, when R. Vinay Kumar joined him, chances of Naidu getting a century were indeed remote. He had just 20 to his credit. Delhi, however, allowed the match to drift with some poor fielding and the bowlers were put in place by Naidu's innovative and entertaining batting.

The dapper wicketkeeper-batsman repeatedly beat the men on the fence with cleverly placed and stunningly timed strokes. There was nothing crass about his demolition job as the ball, on many occasions, was sweetly caressed to the destination.It was Thilak's seventh century in Ranji Trophy.

Naidu was 39 when the 17-year-old K.P. Appanna walked to the crease. The youngster, with a most matured approach, supported Naidu in a rollicking last-wicket partnership of 85 runs. Appanna's contribution was just one run but his presence priceless. Delhi suffered at the hands of B. Akhil, who picked up three wickets after Vinay got rid of Aakash Chopra with a wily in-swinger. Virat Kohli (40 off 123 balls with seven fours) and Puneet Bisht (28 off 55 balls with four fours) stemmed the rot with some sensible batting.

The scores:

Karnataka — 1st innings: R. Barrington b Nehra 4, R. Uthappa c Bisht b Nehra 161, B. Chipli c Kohli b Nehra 0, C. Raghu c Chopra b Bhatia 87, Y. Goud (run out) 26, T. Naidu c Bisht b Sharma 122, S. Binny c Chopra b Sharma 11, S. Joshi lbw b Sharma 7, B. Akhil b Nehra 0, Vinay b Sharma 3, K. Appanna (not out) 1; Extras (b-10, lb-2, nb-12) 24; Total (in 115.1 overs) 446.

Fall of wickets: 1-9, 2-9, 3-209, 4-299, 5-300, 6-321, 7-337, 8-338, 9-361.

Delhi bowling: Nehra 36-5-171-4, Sharma 31.1-7-99-4, Lall 6-0-34-0, Nanda 21-5-72-0, Bhatia 12-6-18-1, Manhas 9-1-40-0.

Delhi — 1st innings: A. Chopra b Vinay 0, S. Dhawan lbw b Akhil 8, M. Tehlan lbw b Akhil 0, M. Manhas lbw b Vinay 4, V. Kohli (batting) 40, R. Bhatia c Joshi b Akhil 18, P. Bisht (batting) 28; Extras (b-5) 5; Total (for five wkts. in 47 overs) 103.

Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-7, 3-14, 4-14, 5-51.

Karnataka bowling: Vinay 10-4-19-2, Akhil 11-2-21-3, Binny 7-3-16-0, Joshi 13-5-19-0, Appanna 4-0-17-0, Raghu 2-0-6-0.

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