Karnataka build massive lead

Cricket Ranji Trophy: Five batsmen score half-centuries as Nair's men amass 414 in first innings

Karnataka produced an authoritative batting performance to move into a commanding position against Delhi in their Ranji Trophy Group ‘B’ encounter here on Friday.

After their bowlers had done a superb job on the first day to bowl out Delhi for just 90, their batsmen dominated proceedings here at the Eden Gardens on day two to post 414 all out, gaining a huge first innings lead of 324 runs. 

Resuming from 131 for three, Karnataka’s response to Delhi’s lowly total was shaped by half-centuries from CM Gautam (63 n.o.), skipper Karun Nair (53) and Mir Kaunian Abbas (52).

Openers R Samarth (53) and Mayank Agarwal (56) had laid a perfect foundation on the first day for a big total and Karnataka’s middle-order didn’t put a foot wrong as Delhi endured another tough day at the office.

The Delhi bowlers were made to sweat as Karnataka emerged on top in all three sessions of the day. For Delhi, left-arm spinner Varun Sood worked hard for his wickets and finished as their most successful bowler (4/80).

While the surface looked to have eased out a bit for batting, it remains to be seen how it will behave in the next two days. After an appalling show in their first innings, a lot depends on Delhi’s approach as they try to avoid defeat.

Earlier, Delhi began brightly as their senior paceman Ishant Sharma dismissed night-watchman Abhimanyu Mithun in the second over of the day. But Nair and the promising Abbas, who held the middle-order together in the first game against Jharkhand, forged a valuable alliance of 89 runs for the fifth wicket.

Nair was good on the backfoot against the pacers and had enough time to create his shots while Abbas played another composed knock. Nair came down the track and slammed a six over long-off off Manan Sharma to bring up his half-century. His hit five fours and two sixes before he was dismissed by Sood, who took a sharp catch off his own bowling. In the last over before lunch, Sood struck again when he trapped Abbas in front as Karnataka finished the first session at 258 for six.

Vikas Tokas scalped Stuart Binny early into the post lunch session but Shreyas Gopal (46) and Gautam didn’t let Delhi make inroads into their batting, forging another useful partnership.

Gautam was happy nudging around for singles in the initial phase of his innings and the wicketkeeper scored just 33 runs in his first 100 balls. After Shreyas departed following an engaging innings, Gautam upped his scoring rate and was effective against the spinners. The senior batsman found his boundaries through sweeps and late cuts and posted a responsible knock.