Karnataka finally revealed its batting muscle and with its seamers also striking in tandem, the host was better placed to stun Delhi in the Ranji Trophy Group B match in progress at the hinnaswamy Stadium here on Monday.
Though Delhi had gained a 66-run first innings lead, Karnataka’s resurgent second innings — 475 for nine declared in 103.2 overs — helped set a target of 410. R. Vinay Kumar’s men also gained an added fillip as the visitor’s second innings suffered a shaky start of 40 for three.
Earlier on the third day, Karnataka’s dominance was a distant hope as the host suffered a terrible first hour. Resuming at the overnight 136 for no loss, Robin Uthappa, K.L. Rahul, Kunal Kapoor and Ganesh Satish perished in quick succession and Karnataka slumped to 167 for four.
Parvinder Awana and Sumit Narwal prised out two wickets each and at that stage Karnataka was just 101 runs ahead. The contest was at its tipping point and in a sense the stage was set for Manish Pandey (61) and Stuart Binny (85, 100b, 9x4, 4x6) to display their inherent dynamism.
The duo did precisely that with a 145-run fifth-wicket partnership while strangely Delhi’s attack acquired a lethargic air.
Ashish Nehra bowled just three overs and once Vikas Mishra stepped in, Binny scattered the left-arm spinner for four sixes. Pandey too joined the act and though he and Binny departed in a span of 18 deliveries, Karnataka continued unhindered as C.M. Gautam (71) and Abhimanyu Mithun (52) made merry and stifled Delhi.
The scores: Karnataka — 1st innings: 192.
Delhi — 1st innings: 258.
Karnataka — 2nd innings: Robin Uthappa c Bist b Awana 81, K.L. Rahul c Bist b Narwal 73, Kunal Kapoor lbw b Awana 6, Ganesh Satish lbw b Narwal 0, Manish Pandey b Mishra 61, Stuart Binny c Chand b Bhatia 85, C.M. Gautam c Bhatia b Sharma 71, R. Vinay Kumar c Chand b Awana 30, Abhimanyu Mithun c Bhatia b Narwal 52, H.S. Sharath (not out) 0; Extras (b-6, lb-6, nb-3, w-1): 16; Total (for nine wkts. decl., in 103.2 overs): 475.
Fall of wickets: 1-140, 2-167, 3-167, 4-167, 5-312, 6-320, 7-383, 8-466, 9-475.
Delhi bowling: Ashish Nehra 12-1-51-0, Parvinder Awana 22-2-89-3, Sumit Narwal 21.2-2-84-3, Rajat Bhatia 20-1-87-1, Vikas Mishra 20-2-99-1, Mohit Sharma 8-0-53-1.
Delhi — 2nd innings: Unmukt Chand lbw b Vinay 18, Shikhar Dhawan lbw b Sharath 13, Mohit Sharma (batting) 4, Vikas Mishra c Rahul b Sharath 0, Mithun Manhas (batting) 1; Extras (b-4): 4; Total (for three wkts., in 13 overs): 40.
Fall of wickets: 1-30, 2-35, 3-35.
Karnataka bowling: Vinay Kumar 5-1-14-1, Abhimanyu Mithun 6-1-13-0, H.S. Sharath 2-0-9-2.
