The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Uthappa slams century

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jan 03, 2007
ePaper

Sport

Sport - Cricket

Uthappa slams century

Principal Correspondent

AGGRESSIVE KNOCK: Robin Uthappa's 159 off 171 balls helped Karnataka reach a comfortable score against Tamil Nadu on the opening day. — Photo: K. Bhagya Prakash

Bangalore: Robin Uthappa ensured a positive start for Karnataka cricket in 2007. The opener's aggressive 159 helped the home side post 309 for six against Tamil Nadu on the opening day of the Ranji Trophy Super League Group `A' match here at the Chinnaswamy Stadium.

Uthappa's fourth Ranji hundred (159, 171b, 21x4, 5x6) along with skipper Yere Goud's unbeaten 58 helped the host to a comfortable score after it opted to bat on a pitch that promised assistance for the spinners.

Tamil Nadu might have nursed faint hopes in the morning when the Karnataka scorecard read 45 for two in 9.3 overs but with Uthappa's positive intent and C. Raghu (39) chipping in, the script changed. The duo shared a 96-run third-wicket partnership that stabilised the innings after opener Barrington Rowland fell to left-arm spinner C. Suresh and debutant Gaurav Dhiman was dismissed for a duck.

Dhiman's top-edged cross-batted swipe was pouched by medium-pacer C. Ganapathy, who cut short his follow-through and scampered to mid-on to take the catch.

Raghu slog swept and cut the spinners before he aimed an extravagant drive off Suresh but only managed to drag the ball onto the stumps. Meanwhile Uthappa enjoyed a reprieve on 53 as Varun Kumar failed to stump him off R. Ashwin.

The lanky off-spinner again had Uthappa in a spot of bother when the opener gave the charge and missed the line but the ball ricocheted off his legs towards fine-leg. Those were the only tentative moments in Uthappa's tenure that was marked with the regal drive to covers and the whiplash pull over mid-wicket. And as Uthappa eased into his century, the spinners were given the treatment — an Ashwin over went for 16 and later Suresh gave away 19 in an over.

Meanwhile at the other end, Goud dropped anchor and his contribution to the 100-run fourth-wicket partnership was a mere 11. Tamil Nadu skipper S. Badrinath swapped his bowlers repeatedly but found no respite before Uthappa eventually fell to Yomahesh.

The seamer, who had an ordinary day and struggled for the right line besides bowling 10 no-balls, however found his mark with one that swung back and rapped Uthappa's pads.

Thilak Naidu and Deepak Chougule did not last long but Goud ensured that his team did not fritter away the momentum gained from Robin's knock. The skipper, during the course of his unfinished innings, notched up 5000 runs in Ranji Trophy. And if he can bolster his kitty on Wednesday, Tamil Nadu will have a tough task on hand.

The scores:

Karnataka — 1st innings: Barrington Rowland c Prasanna b C. Suresh 16, Robin Uthappa lbw b Yomahesh 159, Gaurav Dhiman c & b C. Ganapathy 0, C. Raghu b C. Suresh 39, Yere Goud (batting) 58, Thilak Naidu lbw b R. Ashwin 13, Deepak Chougule c Prasanna b R. Ashwin 3, Sunil Joshi (batting) 1; Extras (b-8, lb-2, nb-10): 20; Total (for six wkts. in 90 overs): 309.

Fall of wickets: 1-44, 2-45, 3-141, 4-241, 5-297, 6-301.

Tamil Nadu bowling: Yomahesh 14-1-57-1; C. Ganapathy 16-5-37-1; C. Suresh 23-3-105-2; R. Ashwin 25-10-59-2; S. Badrinath 4-1-11-0; Hemang Badani 4-0-15-0; M. Vijay 4-0-15-0.

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

Sport