Karthik lifts TN to 434

Malolan plays a good hand with the bat.

TIMELY KNOCK: Tamil Nadu’s Malolan Rangarajan, who scored 61, gave ample support to century-maker Dinesh Karthik against Mumbai on the second day of Ranji Trophy on Friday.

Mumbai had Tamil Nadu tottering at 249 for six in their Ranji Trophy Group B match at the Bandra Kurla Complex on Thursday.

The balance of power shifted southwards on Friday, thanks largely to Dinesh Karthik’s chanceless century (167, 19x4, 1x6), bolstered by Malolan Rangarajan’s 61, which steered their side to a sizeable 434. In reply, Mumbai crawled to 45 for two by the close.

The second day’s honours were shared by the home side’s left-arm spinner Vishal Dabholkar, whose haul of five for 122 became his third such feat in the nation’s premier domestic competition. To his Thursday tally of four for 67 the tweaker added the prized scalp of TN top-scorer Karthik. 

Karthik, the hardest working cricketer on the horizon perhaps, constantly keen to improve on his technique while remaining fit, warded off every threat that Mumbai’s pacemen could pose. Absolutely at home in the middle, he climbed to three figures with an inside out cover drive, a stroke he seemed to enjoy playing. 

The Mumbai attack couldn’t quite separate the overnight pair right through the morning session even after resorting to a sustained leg side line that had Dabholkar tweaking from the far end and Abhishek Raut plying his wrist spin from the pavilion’s front. Siddhesh Lad replaced Raut but to no avail.

Productive session

The post-lunch session again proved productive for Mumbai. Aditya Tare held Malolan low to his right off Shardul Thakur. Before long, comfort made way for complacence as Karthik stretched his luck and his front foot to sweep time and again against Dabholkar’s spin. 

The TN keeper managed to get away with it till lunch. Dabholkar’s patience paid off after the break as Karthik attempted another swipe, missed the turn and was rapped on the pads.

The Tamil Nadu tail folded not much later, Dhawal Kulkarni claiming the last two wickets off successive balls. 

In sweltering heat, with temperatures touching the torrid end of the 30s, Mumbai’s opening pair of Shrideep  Mangela and Akhil Herwadkar tested the abilities of the afternoon gathering to stay awake. Tight bowling by the TN pacemen had them playing it safe rather than be sorry. 

Herwadkar’s exit, caught by stumper Karthik off M. Mohammed, provided some relief from the host’s sluggish scoring. 

The scores:

Tamil Nadu — 1st innings: B. Aparajith lbw b Dabholkar 62, M.i Vijay c Aditya b Shardul 8, Kaushik Gandhi c Yadav b Dabholkar 31, Dinesh Karthik lbw b Dabholkar 167, B. Indrajith c Shrideep b Dabholkar 0, R. Prasanna c Vishal b Balwinder Sandhu 12, J. Kousik b Dabholkar 39, Malolan Rangarajan c Tare b Shardul 61, Aswin Crist (not out) 24, M. Mohammed c Akhil Herwadkar b Kulkarni 17, Rahil Shah lbw b Kulkarni 0; Extras (b-9, lb-3, nb-1): 13; Total (in 144.4 overs): 434.

Fall of wickets: 1-20, 2-104, 3-107, 4-107, 5-144, 6-203, 7-385, 8-399, 9-434.

Mumbai bowling: Dhawal Kulkarni 30.4-9-87-2, Shardul Thakur 26-3-73-2, B.S. Sandhu 25-9-45-1, Akhil Herwadkar 9-0-35-0, Vishal Dabholkar 41-8-122-5, Abhishek Raut 8-0-38-0, Siddhesh Lad 5-0-22-0. 

Mumbai — 1st innings: Shrideep Mangela (batting) 20, Akhil Herwadkar c Karthik b Mohammed 11, Shreyas Iyer c & b J. Kousik 12, Dhawal Kulkarni (batting) 1; Extras (w-1): 1; Total (for two wkts. in 29 overs): 45.

Fall of wickets: 1-26, 2-44.

Tamil Nadu bowling: Aswin Crist 9-3-21-0, M. Mohammed 10-7-13-1, J. Kousik 6-4-4-1, Malolan Rangarajan 4-2-7-0.