The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Dhawan, Kohli slam centuries

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Dec 18, 2007
ePaper

Sport

Sport - Cricket

Dhawan, Kohli slam centuries

Principal Correspondent

— Photo: K. Bhagya Prakash

CENTURIONS: Delhi’s Shikhar Dhawan (left) and Virat Kohli shared a massive second-wicket stand in the Ranji Trophy super league against Karnataka.

Bangalore: Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli slammed centuries and helped Delhi post 337 for two against Karnataka in the Ranji Trophy super league Pool A match that commenced at the Chinnaswamy Stadium here on Monday.

Shikhar’s innings (148, 307m, 211b, 24x4) was high on adrenaline and pulsating shots, while Virat (154 n.o., 334m, 292b, 21x4, 1x6), after a comparatively sedate start, kept pace with his partner as the duo shared a 266-run second-wicket partnership that helped soften the early blow of losing opener Akash Chopra.

Early blow

Delhi skipper Mithun Minhas opted to bat, but with seamer S. Dhananjaya trapping Akash Chopra in the day’s sixth over, Karnataka might have nursed slender hopes.

However, it turned out to be a day when a futile leather-hunt dogged its fielders. The score read 22 for one when Chopra departed but the Shikhar-Virat duo ensured that a placid pitch and a bowling attack that failed to restrict, was fully exploited.

Southpaw Shikhar flexed his muscles and employed the pull and cut with abandon. The on-drive was also used to good effect and in a post-lunch blitz, Shikhar slammed four fours in an over from Dhananjaya.

Virat, meanwhile, drove and swatted with panache as Yere Goud’s men were a harried lot on the field, often spending time retrieving the ball from the fence.

Total aggression

Shikhar and Virat never flagged even when approaching their respective centuries and went for their shots. Shikhar on-drove left-arm spinner Sunil Joshi for four to usher in his century and Virat went a step ahead as he hoisted C. Raghu for a six that heralded his ton.

Past tea, a tiring Shikhar edged Joshi but the edge flew low and wide of a diving Robin Uthappa at first slip. Shikhar, however, succumbed to Joshi as he soon snicked one to Uthappa, who made no mistake this time around at first slip.

Shikhar’s trudge back to the pavilion offered no respite to Karnataka as Manhas waded into a Dhananjaya over, driving with aplomb, a cover-drive that left the fielders rooted being the pick. At the other end Virat continued his merry ways and notched up his 150, driving seamer Vinay Kumar for four.

The scores:

Delhi – 1st innings: Shikhar Dhawan c Uthappa b Joshi 148, Akash Chopra lbw b Dhananjaya 6, Virat Kohli (batting) 154, Mithun Manhas (batting) 26; Extras (nb-3): 3. Total(for two in 92 overs): 337.

Fall of wickets: 1-22, 2-288.

Karnataka bowling: Vinay Kumar 21-5-65-0, Dhananjaya 17-5-91-1, Joshi 24-7-84-1, Appanna 17-3-49-0, Raghu 7-1-31-0, Verma 6-0-17-0.

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

Sport