The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Powar spins a web around Karnataka

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Powar spins a web around Karnataka

Special Correspondent

CRICKET / Fighting half-century by Akhil takes visitor to 189 for nine

— Photo: Vivek Bendre

WRECKER-IN-CHIEF: Ramesh Powar’s five-wicket haul put Mumbai in command at the end of day one in the Ranji Trophy super league against Karnataka.

MUMBAI: Karnataka elected to bat on the opening day of the four-day Ranji Trophy super league against Mumbai on a Wankhede Stadium wicket which was tipped to assist spinners right from day one.

Off-spinner Ramesh Powar was the main wicket-taker (five for 69) for Mumbai; his first victim was the former Indian skipper Rahul Dravid (40, 97b, 4x4). Karnataka, at one stage, was struggling at 97 for five. But it fought back through Thilak Naidu, who made a stylish 33 (93b, 4x4), and B. Akhil who contributed a gritty unbeaten 53 of 119 balls, with seven hits to the fence. At stumps, the visitor was 189 for nine. Karnataka, however, must be buoyed by the prospect of the experienced Anil Kumble bowling on this wicket.

Disciplined bowling by the Mumbai medium-pacers Ajit Agarkar, Rajesh Verma and Abhishek Nayar kept the batsmen under pressure. There was good support for the bowlers from behind the stumps with the experienced wicketkeeper Vinayak Samant having a hand in five dismissals and the young slip fielder Ajinkya Rahane picking up two catches.

Powar was brought on after 16 overs after Agarkar had successfully sent back the openers Barrington Rowland and K. Pawan. The stocky Mumbai spinner kept the batsmen on their toes, backed by an attacking field.

Dravid was watchful as usual (first boundary came after 35 balls) and the fielders braced themselves for a long haul in humid conditions when a Powar special turned and jumped. Skipper Amol Muzumdar at backward short-leg gleefully snapped up the chance offered by Dravid.

The off-spinner drew Yere Goud forward for Samant to whip off the bails and then removed Sunil Joshi, trapped in front. Anil Kumble edged to Rahane’s safe hands at first slip; Samant picked up an edge off Vinay Kumar.

Akhil, batting at number seven, did not get rattled by the steady procession back to the dressing room as he mixed caution with controlled aggression.

Kumble lasted just six balls at the crease, but he would be keen, supported by Sunil Joshi, to test the survival instincts of the Mumbai batsmen on a wicked pitch.

“You cannot buy experience in a super market,” said Mumbai coach Pravin Amre, referring to wicketkeeper Samant’s show.

It would now be the turn of opener Wasim Jaffer and skipper Muzumdar to reinforce the coach’s faith on experience by taking on Kumble. India’s longest-serving spinner is also one of the most intimidating bowlers around in the game.

The scores:

Karnataka — 1st innings: B. Rowland c Samant b Agarkar 0, K. Pawan c Rahane b Agarkar 11, R. Dravid c Muzumdar b Powar 40, C. Raghu c Samant b Nayar 31, Y. Goud st. Samant b Powar 5, T. Naidu c Samant b Verma 33, B. Akhil (batting) 53, S. Joshi lbw b Powar 6, A. Kumble c Rahane b Powar 0, Vinay c Samant b Powar 4, N. Aiyappa (batting) 1; Extras (lb-2, nb-3) 5; Total (for nine wkts. in 91 overs) 189.

Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-23, 3-72, 4-78, 5-97, 6-145, 7-164, 8-166, 9-172.

Mumbai bowling: Agarkar 14-3-24-2, Verma 19-6-38-1, Powar 29-7-69-5, Nayar 12-4-17-1, Abdulla 17-4-39-0.

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