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Friday, Dec 29, 2006
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Karnataka salvages a draw

Sports Reporter

ANANTAPUR: Former international Sunil Joshi and wicketkeeper-batsman Thilak Naidu (53, 155b, 218m, 4x4) prevented Andhra from securing an outright victory on the final day of the Elite Group B super league Ranji match at the RDT Sports Complex here on Thursday.

Joshi, who joined Naidu when Karnataka was 164 for seven, brought all his experience to the fore in an unbeaten 40-run eighth wicket partnership much to the frustration of the host.

The efforts of the Andhra bowlers proved futile as both played responsibly to salvage the battered pride of their team. Andhra's captain Venugopal decided to take the new ball but the much-desired breakthrough did not happen. Joshi stayed in the middle for 104 minutes for his 11 runs.

Andhra garnered two points by virtue of the first innings lead.

Earlier, in the post-lunch session, Kalyan Krishna in his second over gave his team the breakthrough by scalping the resilient nightwatchman K.P, Appanna. Robin Uthappa (52, 89b, 150m, 8x4), who was shaping well for a long stay in the middle, fell to a rash stroke. His uppish drive was brilliant taken by Sumanth at point. At lunch, Karnataka was precariously placed at 92 for four.

Vijayakumar struck in the second over after lunch ensuring the exit of C. Raghu. Kumar's short pitch delivery lifted awkwardly forcing Raghu to caress the cherry into the hands of wicket-keeper M.S.K. Prasad.

However, skipper Yere Goud (42, 133b, 168m, 4x4) and Thilak Naidu kept their heads down and resisted the rival attack. Venu, who kept shuffling the bowlers, brought himself in few minutes before tea and met with success immediately. He dismissed Yere Goud with a delivery which spun sharply to take the edge into the waiting hands of Md. Faiq at backward short leg. Andhra has 12 points while Karnakata has 10. Andhra takes on Delhi at Vijayawada next, while Karnataka faces Tamil Nadu at Bangalore on January 2.

The scores:

Andhra — 1st innings: 238

Karnataka — 1st innings: 111

Andhra — 2nd innings: 282 for 9 decl.

Karnataka — 2nd innings: Rowland Barrington c L.N. Prasad Reddy b Vijay Kumar 2, Robin Uthappa c Sumanth b Kalyan Krishna 52, Deepak Chougle c Shashavali b Vijay Kumar 4, K.P. Appanna c M.S.K. Prasad b Kalyan Krishna 2, C. Raghu c MSK Prasad b Vijay Kumar 6, Yere Goud c Md Faiq b Venugopala Rao 42, Thilak Naidu (not out) 53, Stuart Binny c A.S.K. Varma b Vijay Kumar 12, Sunil Joshi (not out) 11; Extras (b-9, lb-6, nb-3, w-2): 20. Total (for seven wickets in 104 overs): 204.

Fall of wickets: 1-18, 2-31, 3-60, 4-67, 5-94, 6-145, 7-164.

Andhra bowling: Shahabuddin 25-11-53-0, Krishna 26-10-45-2, Kumar 31-10-61-4, Faiq 5-2-10-0, Prasad 2-2-0-0, Varma 1-0-1-0, Rao 14-8-19-1.

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