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Tuesday, Nov 06, 2007
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Dravid plays true to reputation

Special Correspondent

Karnataka comes up with better showing in second innings

— Photo: Vivek Bendre

STEADY KNOCK: Rahul Dravid acknowledges the cheers after reaching his fifty. He and K.B. Pawan (right) put on an unbeaten partnership of 126.

MUMBAI: Rahul Dravid, playing true to reputation, remained unbeaten on 77 off 178 balls as Karnataka took a 53-run lead over Mumbai on the third day of their four-day Ranji Trophy Super League encounter here on Monday. Dravid also encouraged opener K. Pawan to put his head down for a 214-ball 76.

At 195 for one in the second innings, Karnataka projects a positive picture. Interestingly, the visitors were bowled out for 195 in the first essay. Karnataka needed runs from its batting mainstay, to win back a little of the lost initiative after Mumbai gained the first innings lead in a match heading towards a stalemate on the concluding day.

Dravid responded with an assured showing, getting the shoulder in line to the medium-pacers, and comfortably using the feet against the spinners. The arcs described by his blade must have been a reassuring sight to those padded up in the dressing room.

Bruised pride

Mumbai’s Ranji debutant Iqbal Abdulla (19-7-22-0) survived the counter-attack, while first innings tormentor Ramesh Powar (21-4-66-0) returned with bruised pride.

The Wankhede stadium wicket, on which Powar returned a five-wicket haul in the first innings, is now less hostile. Four wickets fell on day three, eight wickets on day two after an action-packed opening day when nine batsmen trotted back to dressing room.

Dravid’s knock contained 10 boundaries and two sixes in a 126-run second wicket stand with Pawan (seven fours, one six). Earlier, Mumbai stretched the first innings lead to 142 in the morning session. Ajit Agarkar, Vinayak Saman and Iqbal Abdulla maintained a three-plus run-rate as the home team ran up a challenging 337.

Karnataka openers Barrington Rowland (40 off 72 balls) and Pawan got cracking before the former attempted a drive off medium-pacer Rajesh Verma, the inside edge crashing onto the stumps.

Dravid, walking out to bat at No. 3, came in for special attention from Powar, bowling the 10thover with a packed on-side field. Two sixes from the former India skipper forced the home team to do a rethink.

Pawan’s half-century came in 106 balls, his more influential batting partner needed 10 balls more to reach 50.

The scores:

Karnataka — 1st innings: 195.

Mumbai — 1st innings: S. Kukreja c Naidu b Aiyappa 66, W. Jaffer b Aiyappa 55, A. Rahane lbw b Joshi 0, A. Muzumdar lbw b Kumble 23, P. Naik (run out) 78, A. Nayar lbw b Joshi 24, R. Powar c Raghu b Joshi 10, A. Agarkar lbw b Vinay 24, V. Samant c Naidu b Vinay 24, I. Abdulla lbw b Vinay 18, R. Verma (not out) 1; Extras: (b-2, lb-3, nb-9) 14; Total: (in 96 overs) 337.

Fall of wickets: 1-118, 2-121, 3-125, 4-173, 5-217, 6-231, 7-274, 8-306, 9-331.

Karnataka bowling: Vinay Kumar 21-6-50-3, Aiyappa 16-3-60-2, Akhil 12-1-45-0, Kumble 24-2-90-1, Joshi 20-1-67-3, Raghu 3-0-20-0.

Karnataka — 2nd innings: B. Rowland b Verma 40, K. Pawan (batting) 76, R. Dravid (batting) 77; Extras: (nb-2) 2; Total: (for one wkt. in 77 overs) 195.

Fall of wicket: 1-69.

Mumbai bowling: Agarkar 11-2-34-0, Verma 12-4-29-1, Nayar 11-1-38-0, Powar 21-4-66-0, Abdulla 19-7-22-0, Rahane 1-0-1-0, Naik 2-0-5-0.

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