The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Mumbai takes a healthy lead

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Monday, Nov 05, 2007
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Sport - Cricket

Mumbai takes a healthy lead

Special Correspondent

Prashant Naik steadies ship after post lunch slump

— Photo: Vivek Bendre

SOLID INNINGS: After Mumbai lost five wickets after lunch, Prashant Naik came up with a good knock against Karnataka on Sunday.

MUMBAI: The Mumbai batsmen showed how bowling attacks can appear dominant or be rendered docile on wicked wickets.

Karnataka’s trouble against Ramesh Powar’s spin on the first day contrasted with the home team’s aggressive strokeplay on day two of the four-day Ranji Trophy super league match here.

Wasim Jaffer, Sahil Kukreja, Prashant Naik and Abhishek Nayar lifted Mumbai to 302 for seven at stumps, ahead by 107 runs in the first innings.

Good start

Jaffer (55, 116b), compact and correct, put on 118 runs for the first wicket with adventurous Sahil Kukreja (66, 95b), before N.C. Aiyappa broke through the India opener’s defence.

Naik, solid at the crease, top-scored with 78 off 152 balls, lashing nine 4s and a 6 before getting run out. Nayar’s ruthless hitting, singling out Anil Kumble for special attention, fetched him 24 off just 18 balls.

Karnataka’s bowlers escaped further punishment due to Nayar’s reckless reverse sweep against a persistent Sunil Joshi. Ramesh Powar threatened to throw the former India left-arm spinner off line but was caught in the deep.

Joshi emerged from the duel with minor scars (three for 67), Aiyappa claimed both openers (two for 43), while Kumble’s 22 overs cost 85 runs and fetched just rival captain Muzumdar’s wicket.

Karnataka, overnight 189 for nine, lasted only two overs and was bowled out for 195. After Jaffer and Kukreja gave Mumbai a good start, five wickets fell between lunch and tea

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. Naiduc Samant b Verma 33, B. Akhil c Samant b Agarkar 57, S. Joshi lbw b Powar 6, A. Kumble c Rahane b Powar 0, Vinay Kumar c Samant b Powar 4, N.C. Aiyappa (not out) 2; Extras (lb-3, nb-3): 6. Total (in 93.5overs): 195.

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

Mumbai bowling: Agarkar 15.5-3-25-3, Verma 20-6-42-1, Powar 29-7-69-5, Nayar 12-4-17-1, Abdulla 17-4-39-0.

Mumbai — 1st innings:

S. Kukreja c Naidu b Aiyappa 66, W. Jaffer b Aiyappa 55, A. Rahane lbw b Joshi 0, A. Muzumdar lbw b Kumble 23, P. Naik (run out) 78, A. Nayar lbw b Joshi 24, R. Powar c Raghu b Joshi 10, A. Agarkar (batting) 20, V. Samant (batting) 13; Extras (b-2, lb-3, nb-8): 13. Total (in 85 overs) 302 for seven.

Fall of wickets: 1-118, 2-121, 3-125, 4-173, 5-217, 6-231, 7-274.

Karnataka bowling: Vinay 15-4-37-0, Aiyappa 13-2-43-2, Akhil 12-1-45-0, Kumble 22-2-85-1, Joshi 20-1-67-3, Raghu 3-0-20-0.

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