The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Rajasthan takes three points

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Wednesday, Dec 05, 2007
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Rajasthan takes three points

Principal Correspondent

Mysore: A flurry of wickets and a futile run-chase lent some belated excitement as the Ranji Trophy super league Group ‘A’ cricket match between Karnataka and Rajasthan ended in a draw at the Gangotri Glades Stadium here on Tuesday.

Karnataka, after conceding a 64-run first innings lead, bundled out the visitor for 131 in the second innings.

Later, while chasing a stiff target of 196 in its second innings from the remaining 47 minutes and the added 15 mandatory overs, Karnataka, powered by Robin Uthappa’s 54 (38b, 5x4, 1x6), scored 153 for two in 22 overs.

Rajasthan, thanks to its first innings lead, opened its account and gained three points, after losing its earlier three matches, while Karnataka eked a lone point and has nine from four matches.

Karnataka has to play exceedingly well in the remaining three matches to stay in contention for a knock-out berth.

Fine knock

Uthappa drove and pulled with abandon and capitalised on the defensive field set by Rajasthan skipper Md. Aslam.

He swatted S. Mathur over long-on for a six and kept finding the gaps with precision.

After losing his opening partner K.B. Pawan through a run-out, Uthappa and Sudhindra Shinde (50 not out) shared a 52-run partnership for the second-wicket off just 41 deliveries.

However, the target was never within the reach and with Uthappa’s dismissal, while attempting to cart Md. Aslam, Karnataka’s hopes died.

Spinners call the shots

Earlier, the Rajasthan second innings succumbed in a mass of tentative prods as left-arm spinners, veteran Sunil Joshi (four for 25) and rookie K.P. Appanna, along with off-spinner C. Raghu, struck in tandem.

Joshi kept the pressure on and his spell kept both the batsmen and the close-in cordon on the edge.

In the next round commencing on December 9, Karnataka will clash with Saurashtra here, while Rajasthan takes on Mumbai at Jhalawar.

Karnataka’s match against Saurashtra has been shifted from the Infosys ground to the

Gangotri Glades ground.

The scores:

Rajasthan — 1st innings: 393.

Karnataka — 1st innings: 329.

Rajasthan — 2nd innings: Manish c Uthappa b Joshi 14, V. Saxena lbw b Vinay 37, N. Dhoru c Uthappa b Raghu 29, R. Bisht (run out) 8, R. Bishnoi c Akhil b Apanna 0, R. Jhalani c Vinay b Apanna 20, Afroz c Uthappa b Joshi 4, Shamsher c Pawan b Raghu 0, Pankaj c Uthappa b Joshi 6, Md. Aslam (not out) 0, S. Mathur c Pawan b Joshi 0, Extras (b-4, lb-4, penalties-5): 13; Total (in 75 overs): 131.

Fall of wickets: 1-18, 2-61, 3-69, 4-74, 5-110, 6-117, 7-117, 8-126, 9-131.

Karnataka bowling: Joshi 28-18-25-4, Vinay 9-3-16-1, Aiyappa 6-3-10-0, Raghu 9-4-21-2, Appanna 23-9-46-2.

Karnataka — 2nd innings: K.B. Pawan (run out) 5, R. Uthappa c Bisht b Aslam 54, S. Shinde (not out) 50, B. Akhil (not out) 42, Extras (lb-1, nb-1): 2; Total (for two wkts. in 22 overs): 153.

Fall of wickets: 1-32, 2-84.

Rajasthan bowling: Pankaj 5-0-30-0, Mathur 2-0-20-0, Afroz 7-0-49-0, Aslam 8-0-53-1.

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