The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Karnataka forces a draw

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Nov 14, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Sport

Sport - Cricket

Karnataka forces a draw

Special Correspondent

CRICKET / Batsmen stand up to the pressure

— Photo: K. Bhagya Prakash

FIGHTING INNINGS: K.B. Pawan of Karnataka was involved in two crucial partnerships to deny Tamil Nadu an outright win.

BANGALORE: Karnataka frustrated Tamil Nadu’s bid for an outright win with some resolute batting in its second knock on the final day of Ranji Trophy Elite Group ‘B’ match which ended in a tame draw at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium here on Thursday.

Karnataka, resuming at 48 for no loss (following on after conceding a first innings lead of 264) made 269 for four in 93 overs before play was called after the fourth mandatory over.

Tamil Nadu, however, garnered three points for taking first innings lead, taking its tally to six from two matches. Karnataka took one point and has two points from two outings.

There was not much in pitch for the Tamil Nadu bowlers, but for occasional bounce and turn. Left-arm spinner C. Suresh and off-spinner R. Ashwin bowled 64 of the 93 overs on the final day.

Ashwin, bowling with clever variations, picked up three wickets while Suresh took the other wicket to fall on Thursday.

But lot of credit should go the Karnataka batsmen for standing up to the pressure. Opener K.B. Pawan (84, 191b, 11x4, 1x6) shared two crucial partnerships; first for the opening wicket with Bharath Chilpi (33, 61b, 6x4) which yielded 72 and later with Ganesh Satish (29) for the second wicket which produced 79 runs.

Pawan, who was looking good for a century, however fell in the post lunch session. C. Suresh, bowling over the wicket, had Pawan edging to wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik.

Pawan fell with the Karnataka score at 183. There was a glimmer of hope for Tamil Nadu when skipper Robin Uthappa fell four runs later when his slashed shot was caught by Yomahesh at covers.

But the fifth wicket pair of C. Raghu (21 n.o., 112b, 2x4) and Manish Pandey (57 n.o., 77b, 2x4) snuffed Tamil Nadu’s hopes with a sensible unbeaten stand of 82.

The scores:

Tamil Nadu — 1st innings: 531.

Karnataka — 1st innings: 267.

Karnataka — 2nd innings: K.B. Pawan c Karthik b Suresh 84, Bharath Chipli c Yomahesh b Ashwin 33, Ganesh Satish lbw b Ashwin 29, R. Uthappa c Yomahesh b Ashwin 21, C. Raghu (not out) 21, Manish Pandey (not out) 57; Extras (b-14, nb-5, penalty 5): 24; Total (for four wkts. in 93 overs): 269.

Fall of wickets: 1-72, 2-151, 3-183, 4-187.

Tamil Nadu bowling: L. Balaji 16-3-57-0, Ashwin 30-10-71-3, C. Suresh 34-14-63-1, Vidyut 1-0-6-0, Yomahesh 3-0-22-0, Suresh Kumar 6-1-17-0, Ganapathy 3-1-14-0.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport