Karnataka batsmen flounder on day one
Hosts bowled out for 257 as Baroda take upper hand
Once again, the Karnataka top-order left the job for their colleagues down the line-up. But unlike in the past, they failed to script any miracle tales on a warm Wednesday as Baroda gained the upper hand on the first of the Ranji Trophy Super League Group B match at the Gangotri Glades
It was the grit of the tail that characterised Karnataka’s wins in the last two matches. A massive triple hundred association for the sixth-wicket between Manish Pandey and CM Gautam rescued them against Orissa in Bangalore while Pandey, Stuart Binny and Amit Verma played lead characters when Karnataka wriggled out of trouble against Himachal Pradesh.
The day called for another large-hearted effort from the tail after Karnataka were reduced to 149 for seven, a short while into the post-lunch session. However, this time all they could manage was some pockets of resistance, ending the first day on an unsatisfactory 257 all out after being asked to bat.
Even that total would not have been possible without the stubbornness of Gautam and veteran Sunil Joshi. They shared a 72-run partnership for the eighth wicket to add some respect to the hosts’ total. But on a pitch that will, in all probability, remain a batsman’s ally, the performance might come back to haunt Karnataka.
A majority of the home batsmen were victims of their own indiscretion. Gautam and Joshi showed during their alliance that runs could be made easily on this track if batsmen applied themselves. Gautam, returning to the side after missing the match against Himachal due to a sore knee, displayed high levels of concentration to carve out a fine fifty.
By no means was their stay an easy one as the Baroda bowlers, especially left-arm pacer Sankalp Vohra, kept a tight leash on them. It was a heartening sight, if you are from Baroda, to see the bowlers showing the willingness to bend their back for that extra purchase on a smooth pitch. But Gautam and Joshi showed loads of patience to wait for their chance to free their arms and push the score ahead. Gautam can bat with a lot of flair, evidenced by a couple of silky drives through the covers off pacer Murtuja Vahora, but he curtailed his inclination for being fanciful on the day. The wicketkeeper-batsman gauged the situation to a nicety and batted accordingly in the company of his senior team-mate as visions of another late-order rally loomed.
Joshi should also be given credit for helping Gautam in his venture to take Karnataka out of a tight situation. The left-hander called on his years of experience and didn’t allow a look in for the Baroda bowlers, who might have been hoping to restrict the hosts to a sub-200 total. However, left-arm spinner Bhargav Bhat ended the blossoming alliance, dismissing Gautam (57, 145m, 90b, 8x4). With Joshi too departing soon, the Karnataka innings came to halt. But the scenario would have been a lot better for them had they exploited the 73-run opening wicket stand between Robin Uthappa and KB Pawan.
Uthappa blended audacity and patience in equal measure and Pawan knuckled down to
regain his touch as the Baroda bowlers failed to make an impact in the first hour.
Uthappa can be a breathtaking sight in full flow and a pulled six off left-arm pacer Gagandeep Singh and a square drive off Murtuja promised a big innings from the Kodava lad.
But edginess seemed to course through his nerves after reaching the fifty with a late cut off Bhat.
Suddenly, Uthappa appeared a different batsman, lashing aimlessly at every delivery and the ultra aggressive mindset led to his downfall, also triggering a modest day for Karnataka.
