The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Karnataka would be eager to settle scores with Railways

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Wednesday, Nov 23, 2005

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Karnataka would be eager to settle scores with Railways

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: Six-time winner Karnataka will be looking to settle a score with defending champion Railways in their campaign-opener of the Ranji Trophy cricket tournament at the Karnail Singh Stadium here.

In the last two encounters between the teams, Railways had laid the former champion low. At the same venue in 2001, Railways had gained points after taking a massive 214-run first innings lead. On January 3 this year, Railways scored a seven - wicket victory to end Karnataka's run and move into the semifinals.

Karnataka, which boasted of five to six players in the National squad in late 1970s and mid-1990s, has slipped from the pedestal after failing to find suitable replacements. When Karnataka begins the new season even without the services of Dravid, it has every reason to be optimistic. Spinners Anil Kumble and Sunil Joshi, in addition to the pace trio of Dodda Ganesh, Vinay Kumar and N.C. Aiyappa give Karnataka's bowling a decisive edge.

For Kumble, who will be playing his first domestic game in six seasons, it will be a good workout before joining the Indian team for the Test series against the visiting Lankans. The top-order batting that includes youngsters Barrington Rowland along with Robin Uthappa, the man who caught the eye with an exhilarating knock in the Challenger Trophy last month, and the vastly experienced skipper Sujith Somasundar, looks impressive.

Tested team

Railways, fresh from regaining the Irani Cup here early last month, has repeatedly proved that a spirited combination is more effective than banking on the services of a few "stars." Though Murali Kartik and J.P. Yadav are away with the National team, Sunjoy Bangar leads a tested team in which every member knows his role well.

Hailed as the "champion team" by Greg Chappell during the Irani Cup match, Railways has come up with a series of champion-like performances to extricate itself from trouble and end up triumphant, more often than not, in the last five seasons.

Indeed, the Railwaymen have come a long way from the days when they were the `favourite' whipping boys of Central Zone. Coach Vinod Sharma has played a huge role in transforming this side and today it has the respect of all opposition. For the matter, Karnataka's coach K. Jeshwanth, too, would like his team to take a leaf out of Railways' book.

With the "green" pitch promising to offer reasonable amount of bounce, a keen battle is expected.

The teams (from): Railways: Sunjoy Bangar (capt.), Amit Pagnis, T.P. Singh, Vineet Saxena, Raja Ali, Yere Goud, Milind Tamhane, Sudhir Wankhede, Harvinder Singh, Kulamani Parida, Santosh Saxena, G. Shankar Rao, Santosh Sahu, Madan Yadav and Rahul Deb.

Karnataka: Sujith Somasundar (capt.), Barrington Rowland, Robin Uthappa, Bharat Chipli, Sudhindra Shinde, Sunil Joshi, Anil Kumble, Dodda Ganesh, V.S. Thilak Naidu, B. Akhil, R. Vinay Kumar, N.C. Aiyappa, Udit Patel, Deepak Chougule and Stuart Binny.

Umpires: Messrs Jasbir Singh and R.Y. Deshmukh. Match Referee: Mr. Rajinder Goel.

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