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Karnataka takes control

Special Correspondent

— Photo: K. Bhagya Prakash

ELEGANT: Thilak Naidu came up with a good knock but was unfortunate to miss out on a well-deserved century.

BANGALORE: Karnataka powered its way to a commanding position on the second day of the Ranji Trophy Super League Group ‘B’ match against Baroda at the RSI Ground here on Tuesday.

At close, Karnataka was 347 for seven with some sensible batting by Rahul Dravid (83, 117b, 11x4, 1x6), Thilak Naidu (90, 178b, 7x4, 1x6) and Sunil Joshi (55, 88b, 3x4, 6x6). The host has an overall lead of 178 and is looking good for more.

Baroda’s hopes — after the early success on Monday evening — was dashed by the trio, who piled misery on the Baroda bowlers. Both Dravid and Thilak Naidu were unlucky to miss deserving centuries.

Steady flow of runs

With the match starting 45 minutes late following overnight rain, Dravid and C. Raghu, took time to settle down but once they did, there was a steady flow of runs as the pair put on 75 runs for the fourth wicket before Raghu (30) fell to left-arm spinner Rajesh Pawar.

Enterprising stand

Then Dravid and Thilak Naidu put on 69 runs in an enterprising stand as both the batsmen kept the scoreboard ticking.

Dravid fell in the post lunch session, with Karnataka on 168. Medium-pacer Argal’s delivery kept low, hit his pads and rolled on to the stumps.

Baroda’s joy was short-lived as Joshi played an explosive innings, slamming 11fours and six sixes and his sixth wicket partnership with Thilak Naidu was the best of the Karnataka innings, yielding 103 runs.

It put Karnataka in control before Argal struck again, uprooting Joshi’s off-stump.

Thilak Naidu unlucky

After Joshi’s exit, with the Karnataka total on 271 for six, Thilak Naidu curbed his strokes and got to his 90.

The crowd anticipated a century from the dashing wicketkeeper-batsman but he attempted a late-cut off Pawar and was adjudged caught behind. The batsman was not too happy with the decision.

Then B. Akhil (42 batting) and Sunil Raju (15 batting) were involved in an unbeaten 38-run partnership for the eighth wicket to keep Baroda at bay.

The scores:

Baroda — 1st innings: 169.

Karnataka — 1st innings: K.B. Pawan lbw b Argal 3, R. Uthappa c Solanki b Argal 4, Manish Pandey c Shah b Veragi 12, R. Dravid b Argal 83, C. Raghu b Pawar 30, Thilak Naidu c Shah b Pawar 90, S. Joshi b Argal 55, B Akhil (batting) 42, S. Raju (batting) 15; Extras (lb-8, w-4, nb-1): 13. Total (for seven wkts. in 104 overs): 347.

Fall of wickets: 1-3, 2-14, 3-24, 4-99, 5-168, 6-271, 7-309.

Baroda bowling: Veragi 16-3-52-1, Argal 23-4-78-4, Pawar 32-6-96-2, Panchal 17-2-40-0, Utkarsh 16-1-73-0.

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