The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Vinay hat-trick puts Maharashtra in dire straits

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Vinay hat-trick puts Maharashtra in dire straits

Special Correspondent

RATNAGIRI: A hat-trick by Vinay Kumar left Maharashtra desperately looking to save its Ranji Trophy Elite League Group A match against Karnataka. And this after Karnataka buried the host’s hopes for a semifinal berth under an avalanche of runs on the third day, at the Shivaji stadium.

Centuries from skipper Yere Goud (122, 236 balls) and Bharat Chipli (135 not out, 184 balls) had enabled Karnataka declare at 545 for nine after tea — ahead by 269 runs.

In the course of a fiery four-over spell, Vinay Kumar rattled timber twice and then earned a leg-before verdict to complete his hat-trick — opener Ankit Bawne, Ajinkya Joshi and Ameya Shrikande were the victims — as the home team slumped to 18 for three, needing 251 runs more on the fourth day to make the visitors bat again.

Harshad Khadiwale and the experienced Venugopala Rao were at the crease at stumps.

Goud, playing true to his reputation on the domestic circuit as an accumulator of runs, denied the young Maharashtra bowlers backed by some enthusiastic fielding.

Thilak Naidu’s confidence increased with every over as the two put on 120 for the sixth wicket. The former reached a carefully made century off 205 balls. He punished loose deliveries — he hit 20 boundaries — and was fully in control during his 309-minute stay, before falling to change bowler Yogesh Takawale.

Chipli’s philosophy of batting is more dynamic. He gave bowlers the charge and used timing and power to send the ball soaring into the stands. He hit four sixes, stepping out to loft or dancing back to create space against slow bowlers, apart from 16 fours via the cut and the pull against the medium-pacers.

None of the nine bowlers Maharashtra tried out could find success. The seventh wicket stand reaped 135 runs, allowing Karnataka the luxury of a declaration and using the remaining overs to allow new-ball bowlers Vinay and N.C. Aiyappa have a go at the tired batsmen.

The scores:

Maharashtra — 1st innings: 276

Karnataka — 1st innings: R. Uttappa c Takawale b Sayyed 15, K. Pawan b Joshi 102, D. Patil c Dhruv b Fallah 7, C. Raghu c Dhruv b Joshi 67, A. Verma lbw b Rao 1, T. Naidu c & b Rao 58, Y. Goud lbw b Takawale 122, B. Chipli (not out) 135, S. Joshi lbw b Joshi 1, Vinay Kumar c Fallah b Joshi 0, N.C. Aiyappa (not out) 6, Extras (b-14, lb-2, nb-8, w-7) 31. Total (for nine decl. in 172 overs) 545.

Fall of wickets: 1-27, 2-38, 3-194, 4-208, 5-212, 6-332, 7-467, 8-470, 9-472

Maharashtra bowling: Fallah 30-4-103-1, Dole 27-7-80-0, Sayyed 24-6-58-1, Khadiwale 11-1-36-0, Joshi 44-10-133-4, Dhruv 2-0-5-0, Rao 13-5-36-2, Bawne 9-0-43-0, Takawale 12-0-35-1.

Maharashtra — 2nd innings: H. Khadiwale (batting) 5, A. Bawne b Vinay 0, A. Joshi b Vinay 0, A. Shrikhande lbw b Vinay 0, V. Rao (batting) 3, Extras (b-5, lb-4, nb-1) 10; Total (for three in seven overs) 18.

Fall of wickets: 1-9, 2-9, 3-18.

Karnataka bowling: Vinay 4-2-3-3, Aiyappa 3-1-6-0.

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