JOIN USVerma keeps Karnataka at bay
Two seasoned left-handed Bengaluru-born players — Amit Verma and Sreenath Arvind — representing rival teams, stole the honours on day one of the Group ‘B’ Ranji Trophy match between Assam and Karnataka here at the Bandra Kurla Complex.
While pacer Arvind wrecked the Assam batting line-up after they chose to bat first with a five-wicket haul (5/49), his former state-mate Verma stood like a rock to prop up Assam’s first innings by notching his 11th first class hundred in his 62nd game.
At stumps, Assam were 268 for six after recovering from 16 for three and then 166 for six, thanks to Verma’s diligent, unbeaten knock of 125 (340m, 259 b, 18x4, 6x1).
The other unbeaten batsman at close was Sarupam Purkayastha, batting on 56. Verma and Purkayastha forged an unbroken alliance of 102 runs.
Arvind shouldered the pace bowling responsibility in lion-hearted style following the early exit of partner Abhimanyu Mithun, who bowled only four balls in his second over before leaving the field with a groin strain.
The 32-year-old Arvind bowled an impressive first spell of 6-1-17-3 and then came back to end the fourth wicket partnership of 76 between Verma and K B Arun Karthik (35) by clean bowling the latter.
Verma made the most of the two chances offered by Karnataka to score an important knock. The southpaw was dropped on two by substitute Arjun Hoysala at point off Stuart Binny. Verma received another reprieve at 40, when he was put down by R Samarth at slips off K Gowtham.
Binny broke another stubborn stand of 54 runs for the fifth wicket between the 29-year-old Verma and Tarjinder Singh by dismissing the latter caught behind for 26.
Arvind then removed Syed Mohammed for a duck to complete his second five-wicket haul in an innings in his 47th first-class game.
Slamming some delightful drives on the off side, Verma batted confidently and with great responsibility. Verma reached his ton with a straight drive four off leg-spinner Shreyas Gopal.
Verma and Purkayastha took full advantage of the weakened Karnataka attack in which Arvind was the lone bright spot. “I decided to spend some time in the middle after we lost early wickets. Our plan is to bat another 50 overs on the second day and reach 450,” said Verma.
Speaking on his team’s bowling performance, Arvind said that Karnataka were unfortunate to lose Mithun early due to injury. “Injuries are part of the game. We were unlucky to lose Mithun early in the game. I felt we could have bowled them out for 220. We gave away extra 40 runs,” said Arvind.