The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Rain plays spoilsport

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Dec 04, 2005

Sport

Sport - Cricket

Rain plays spoilsport

Sports Reporter

Mumbai extends its first innings lead

Bangalore: Rains played spoilsport and in the three hours of play after lunch, Mumbai extended its first innings lead to 158 against Karnataka in the Ranji Trophy Elite Division Group A match in progress at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. At close on the third day, Karnataka remained at zero for no loss in its second innings after bad light curtailed play at 3.30 p.m. Earlier Mumbai scored 344.

The host openers — Robin Uthappa and Rowland Barrington — faced a lone over from rival skipper Nilesh Kulkarni and a lone delivery from Ramesh Powar before the light faded and the players trooped back. Play was officially called off at 4.45 p.m.

Late start

Earlier, overnight rains and poor light ruled out the morning session. Eventually the game commenced after lunch and Mumbai resuming at the overnight 237 for four, lost centurion Vinit Indulkar (120, 222b, 18x4) and Khanvilkar (43) as B. Akhil struck with the new ball. Indulkar was beaten all ends up as the ball crashed into the stumps while Khanvilkar slashed and found Joshi at gully.

Akhil bowled with verve and along with Vinay Kumar managed to tie down the batsmen. Samant was snapped up behind the wicket off Vinay and Stuart rapped Nilesh's pads to stifle the Mumbai march. Nilesh failed to build on his two reprieves — dropped by Shinde and Thilak. The home side's delight in getting quick wickets did not last long as Powar (48) started on a sedate note before using his stocky arms to cart the bowlers with disdain.

Powar's power

Powar hoisted Vinay and Joshi into the stands besides swatting left-arm spinner Raghavendra straight down the ground. Raghavendra had his revenge as Powar edged a late cut and with the tail folding up, Mumbai finished with 344, well ahead of Karnataka's 186.

The scores: Karnataka — 1st innings: 186 (in 86.4 overs).

Mumbai — 1st innings: S. Kukreja (run out) 22, W. Jaffer lbw b Patel 62, V. Indulkar b Akhil 120, A. Muzumdar c Raghavendra b Joshi 1, N. Shetty c Somasundar b Patel 4, O. Khanvilkar c Joshi b Akhil 43, R. Powar c Somasundar b Raghavendra 48, V. Samant c Thilak b Vinay 5, N. Kulkarni lbw b Binny 7, S. Hazare c Somasundar b Raghavendra 10, A. Salvi (not out) 6; Extras: (b-4, lb-4, nb-7, w-1) 16; Total: 344 (in 121.4 overs).

Fall of wickets: 1-68, 2-103, 3-112, 4-118, 5-246, 6-265, 7-270, 8-292, 9-327.

Karnataka bowling: Vinay 21-5-58-1, Binny 11-2-37-1, Akhil 21-6-55-2, Joshi 36-11-95-1, Patel 27-10-60-2, Raghavendra 5.4-0-31-2.

Karnataka — 2nd innings: R. Uthappa (batting) 0, Barrington (batting) 0; Total: 0 (for no loss in 1.1 overs).

Mumbai bowling: Kulkarni 1-1-0-0, Powar 0.1-0-0-0.

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

Sport