The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Karnataka takes vital lead

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Nov 26, 2005

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Sport - Cricket

Karnataka takes vital lead

Special Correspondent

Santosh Saxena takes a career-best six for 65

NEW DELHI: Karnataka was made to scrape the bottom of its batting reserves on way to snatching the all-important first-innings lead over Railways in a fascinating battle of wits in their Ranji Trophy Elite Group `A' match at the Karnail Singh Stadium here on Friday.

The visiting team eventually managed a slim 13-run lead when the batting skills of Anil Kumble and Dodda Ganesh came handy and added 26 important runs for the ninth wicket. Interestingly, Karnataka overhauled Railways' first innings tally of 323 with the help of five penalty runs resulting from the ball hitting the helmet placed behind wicketkeeper Sudhir Wankhede.

Even as Karnataka won the race for first innings lead, Railways' medium pacer Santosh Saxena's career-best effort of six for 65 was pushed into the background. This former Mumbai player bowled his heart out on a pitch that offered little help. He was rewarded for his disciplined showing of 24 overs spread over six spells. After scalping the openers on Thursday, Saxena took the last four wickets to fall on this day.

Drawing strength

Even as wickets fell, Karnataka drew strength from the fact that Kumble, with six first-class centuries, and Ganesh, with one three-figure score to his credit, were to bat at No.9 and 10. As it turned out, the pair was in the middle when the lead came Karnataka's way.

This is also the first time in three meetings against Railways that Karnataka had managed to take the first-innings lead. Later, skipper Sujith Somasundar indicated that the team would try and force a victory on Saturday. "With Kumble and Sunil Joshi around, and the odd ball keeping low, well, anything can happen. After all, we cannot let go an opportunity without trying hard," said Somasundar.

Careful approach

In fact, a lot happened during Karnataka's successful bid to gain the lead. Starting the day 190 runs behind Railways' total with seven wicket in hand, Karnataka treaded carefully to move from 134 to 192 before overnight batsmen Sudhindra Shinde (82, 10X4) and Stuart Binny (42, 5X4) fell in successive overs from left-arm spinner Shankar Rao.

The sixth-wicket pair of B. Akhil (31, 1X6, 2X4) and Thilak Naidu (45, 7X4) raised 50 runs in 25.5 overs during which they negotiated the second new ball well. In fact, Naidu opened his account off the 50th delivery he faced.

Hopes rekindled

After Akhil fell leg-before to Saxena, left-hander Sunil Joshi kept Naidu's company until after tea and took the score to 279. Saxena had Joshi caught at point and rekindled Railways hopes. Kumble and Naidu brought Karnataka within 18 runs of taking the lead when Saxena trapped the latter leg-before.

Amidst mounting tension in both camps and the vociferous support of their teammates, Kumble and Ganesh inched past Railways' tally before Saxena struck twice in his two-over spell.

The scores: Railways — 1st innings: 323.

Karnataka — 1st innings: Bharat Chipli c Wankhede b Saxena 2, Barrington Rowland c Wankhede b Saxena 6, Sujith Somasundar b T.P. Singh 46, Sudhindra Shinde c Raja Ali b Rao 82, Stuart Binny c Wankhede b Rao 42, Thilak Naidu lbw b Bangar 45, B. Akhil lbw b Saxena 31, Sunil Joshi c T.P. Singh b Saxena 17, Anil Kumble c Wankhede b Saxena 19, Dodda Ganesh lbw b Saxena 11, R. Vinay Kumar (not out) 1; Extras (b-7, lb-13, nb-6, w-3, penalty runs-5) 34. Total (in 132 overs) 336.

Fall of wickets: 1-6, 2-29, 3-99, 4-192, 5-193, 6-243, 7-279, 8-307, 9-333.

Railways bowling: Harvinder Singh 33-12-55-0, Santosh Saxena 24-5-65-6; Sunjoy Bangar 24-6-52-1, Shankar Rao 36-8-86-2, T.P. Singh 1-0-8-1, Shreyas Khanolkar 12-3-34-0, Yere Goud 2-0-11-0.

Railways — 2nd innings: Amit Pagnis (batting) 0, Sunjoy Bangar (batting) 0, Total (in 0.5 over) 0.

Karnataka bowling: Vinay Kumar 0.5-0-0-0.

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