The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Robin, Rohit bat well

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Sunday, Dec 02, 2007
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Robin, Rohit bat well

Principal Correspondent

Mysore: Rajasthan skipper Mohd. Aslam’s decision to bat against Karnataka in the Ranji Trophy super league Group ‘A’ cricket match at the Gangotri Glades Stadium here on Saturday found vindication in a first innings score of 266 for four at close on the opening day. Robin Bisht (62 not out, 140b, 7x4) and Rohit Jhalani (60 not out, 111b, 10x4) shared an unfinished 107-run partnership for the fifth-wicket that helped the team ease past a post-lunch stumble. Rajasthan came into the match with three consecutive defeats haunting it and Saturday’s effort must have lent confidence to the team.

Earlier, openers Manish Sharma (68, 86b, 12x4) and V. Saxena (42) shared a 120-run partnership in 36.5 overs to help settle Aslam’s nerves after mainstay Gagan Khoda was ruled out with a viral fever.

On a pitch that afforded initial bounce but remained slow, the openers freed their arms and cashed in on the wrong length bowled by seamers Vinay Kumar and N.C. Aiyappa.

The 19-year old debutant, Manish, drove Aiyappa on the up to signal his aggressive intent early on, while Saxena cut and drove left-arm spinner Sunil Joshi’s early deliveries. Meanwhile, Manish hooked Vinay for a four to notch up his maiden Ranji 50 and topped it with a cut and another hook in the same over to help Rajasthan ease past the 100-run mark. Saxena also joined the party, square-driving both Vinay and left-arm spinner K.P. Appanna.

Yere Goud’s men, however, had their moment close to lunch as Manish shuffled across to Joshi and found his pads ruffled, leaving Rajasthan with a lunch score of 120 for one in 38 overs. Post-lunch, Karnataka had its best phase for a while as three wickets fell in a span of 22 overs. The scores:

Rajasthan — 1st Innings: M. Sharma lbw b Joshi 68, V. Saxena c R. Uthappa b N.C. Aiyappa 42, N. Doru b Joshi 4, R. Bisht (batting) 62, R. Bishnoi c S. Shinde b C. Raghu 11, R. Jhalani (batting) 60, Extras (lb-16, b-3): 19; Total (four wkts., 94 overs): 266.