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Nayar's five-for restricts Karnataka

Chennai Sports Bureau

Photo: K. Pichumani

Strike:Abhishek Nayar appeals sucessfully against Stuart Binny. —

CHENNAI: Mumbai, thanks to Abhishek Nayar's five for 65, restricted Karnataka to 265 for nine in 90 overs on the first day of a semifinal match in the Buchi Babu all-India invitation cricket tournament.

Mumbai might have been in a better position had it not dropped C. Raghu off off-spinner Vikrant Yeligeti on 13. Ragu went on to make 52 (127b, 2x4, 1x6), which along with Stuart Binny's 50 and Abrar Kazi's unbeaten 40 ensured that Karnataka's bowlers would have something to work with on Friday. Having asked Karnataka to bat at IIT-Chemplast, Nayar brought himself on after his opening bowlers had searched in vain for the breakthrough. He struck twice in his first over, finding Ganesh Sathish in front of his stumps and having K.B. Pawan caught in the slips.

He then removed Sunil Raju (caught-behind) to leave Karnataka reeling on 35 for three.

Nayar earned his rewards with intelligent medium pace: mainly he bowled off-cutters and seam-up deliveries; on occasion he surprised the batsman with a delivery quicker than his stock ball or one that straightened slightly.

Binny batted solidly for his half-century. He put on 62 for the fourth wicket with opener K.L. Rahul (39) to repair the early damage. In the other semifinal, a rousing late-order recovery led by an unbeaten 69 from Rahul Sharma helped Punjab post 257 for nine in its allotted 90 overs at the IC-Guru Nanak here on Thursday, after it had been 171 for eight at one stage.

The scores (semifinals):

Karnataka 265 for nine in 90 overs (Stuart Binny 50, C. Raghu 52, Abrar Kazi 40 n.o., Abhishek Nayar five for 65) vs. Mumbai.

Punjab 257 for nine in 90 overs (Karan Goel 79, Rahul Sharma 69 not out) vs. Kerala.

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