The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Karnataka tightens the noose

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jan 05, 2007
ePaper

Sport

Sport - Cricket

Karnataka tightens the noose

Principal Correspondent

Tamil Nadu bowled out for 207, forced to follow on

VETERAN AT WORK: Karnataka's Sunil Joshi (without cap) celebrates the fall of one of his four victims. — Photo: K. Bhagya Prakash

Bangalore: Karnataka tightened its grip over Tamil Nadu in the Ranji Trophy Super League Group `A' match on the third day at the Chinnaswamy Stadium here on Thursday. The host's spinners — left-armers Sunil Joshi and K.P. Appanna along with off-spinner C. Raghu — were amongst the wickets as the visitors fell either due to tentative prods or in their odd effort to cut loose.

Resuming at 119 for four, Tamil Nadu was bowled out for 207 in its first innings. After conceding a 219-run first innings lead, Tamil Nadu suffered the ignominy of following on.

Testing time ahead

In the second innings, Tamil Nadu mustered 130 for three and needs another 89 runs to make Karnataka bat again. Batting out time with seven wickets in hand on a fourth day pitch on Friday will also test the visitors' resolve.

The Tamil Nadu second innings was stabilised by a 90-run third wicket partnership between R. Prasanna (59) and skipper S. Badrinath (43 batting) after openers Anirudha Srikkanth and M. Vijay perished with just 22 runs on the board.

Anirudha was trapped on the shuffle by medium-pacer Vinay Kumar while Akhil caught a flier at first slip when Vijay played back to Raghu. Vijay's disappointment over being adjudged caught was evident as he trudged back.

Positive approach

Southpaw Prasanna adopted a positive approach and upset Joshi's rhythm when the spinner operated from the BEML end. Drives and pulls were essayed with assurance and with Joshi failing to restrict, Tamil Nadu began to breathe easy. Meanwhile Badrinath dropped anchor and also enjoyed a reprieve when Thilak Naidu failed to stump him early on.

Prasanna fell in an attempt to sweep Appanna, who has been selected for the India under-19 team that is scheduled to tour New Zealand and Malaysia. At close, Hemang Badani was with Badrinath and the duo, along with the remaining batsmen, have a tedious task of saving the match.

Earlier, Tamil Nadu struggled in the first innings for a toehold as Vijay (48) failed to add to his overnight score. Veteran S. Sharath lost his stumps in an attempt to cut a Joshi delivery that was too close to his body. The rest, with the exception of R. Ashwin (46) who played a plucky innings, caved in.

The scores:

Karnataka — 1st innings: 426.

Tamil Nadu — 1st innings: Anirudha Srikkanth (run out) 0, M. Vijay lbw b Sunil Joshi 48, R. Prasanna c Barrington b K.P. Appanna 39, S. Badrinath lbw b Joshi 13, Hemang Badani lbw b C. Raghu 14, S. Sharath b Joshi 18, R. Ashwin c Deepak Chougule b Joshi 46, Yomahesh lbw b Appanna 1, C. Ganapathy c Vinay Kumar b Appanna 0, Varun Kumar (not out) 11, C. Suresh b C. Raghu 10; Extras (b-1, nb-6): 7; Total (in 98 overs): 207.

Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-78, 3-95, 4-119, 5-119, 6-169, 7-177, 8-177, 9-187.

Karnataka bowling: Vinay Kumar 12-5-26-0; B. Akhil 5-2-19-0; Sunil Joshi 36-20-53-4; Gaurav Dhiman 3-0-15-0; K.P. Appanna 24-8-69-3; C. Raghu 18-10-24-2.

Tamil Nadu — 2nd innings: Anirudha Srikkanth lbw b Vinay 4, M. Vijay c Akhil b Raghu 10, R. Prasanna lbw b Appanna 59, S. Badrinath (batting) 43, Hemang Badani (batting) 6; Extras (b-7, nb-1): 8; Total (for three wkts. in 49 overs): 130.

Fall of wickets: 1-10, 2-22, 3-112.

Karnataka bowling: Vinay 6-2-14-1; Akhil 2-0-5-0; Raghu 15-4-31-1; Joshi 10-1-44-0; Appanna 16-5-29-1.

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

Sport