<p>Karnataka skipper Robin Uthappa did the right thing electing to field on a slightly damp morning. The bowlers, led by R Vinay Kumar (5/40), justified Uthappa’s call bundling Maharashtra out for a paltry 105. Karnataka made 125 for one at close with opener KB Pawan leading the way with a composed unbeaten 74.<br /><br />The dismissal of their skipper Harshad Khadiwale mirrored the whole story of Maharashtra batting. The 20-year old was indecisive about the stroke to be played, and the vacillation resulted in him feathering Vinay to C M Gautam behind the stumps. <br />The subsequent top-order batsmen too seemed to be suffering from indecision, and Karnataka bowlers, especially Vinay, capitalised on it with a disciplined effort. The Davanagere lad moved the ball off the pitch away from batsmen, posing a tough challenge to the opposition. <br /><br />Maharashtra’s best hope of putting a touch of respectability to the total rested on Kedar Jhadav. The stylish 23-year old had scored a match-saving hundred in the previous game against Saurashtra but he could not recreate any magic moments as Vinay snaffled him with a delivery that moved just enough to find the edge of his bat for Manish Pandey to complete a smart catch at slips.<br /><br />Vinay removed Ankit Bawane and Ameya Shrikhande to complete a brilliant first spell that read 9-3-15-4, and with his new ball partner A Mithun jettisoning Rohan Bhosale, Maharashtra nose-dived to 30 for five just before the first drinks break. <br /><br />Recovery from such a situation demands plenty of application and hard work, but there was none in the late order to mount a rescue mission. A 31-run partnership between Ganesh Gaikwad and Rohit Motwani was the highest in Maharashtra innings.<br />With the four pace bowlers utilising the conditions well, Uthappa did not have to turn to his most experienced bowler, Sunil Joshi, who became the most-capped Ranji Trophy player for Karnataka on the day. The match against Maharashtra was the left-arm spinner’s 105th Ranji game for the State, surpassing Brijesh Patel’s tally of 104.<br /><br />Things got only better for Karnataka as their batsmen further pegged back Maharashtra, despite losing Uthappa early. The Karnataka skipper was harshly adjudged leg-before to left-arm paceman Samad Fallah and the batsman had to tear himself away from the crease. But the joy of early success did not last long for Maharashtra as K B Pawan and Ganesh Satish methodically dismantled the Maharashtra attack on a vastly improved pitch to fetch visitors the first innings lead, laying the foundation for a batting charge on the morrow.<br /><br />Pawan was impressive while notching up a fifty of high class, laced with attractive shots and a remarkable awareness about the situation. With Satish too joining the party with some solid shots, Maharashtra soon faded away from the picture.<br />DH News Service</p>
<p>Karnataka skipper Robin Uthappa did the right thing electing to field on a slightly damp morning. The bowlers, led by R Vinay Kumar (5/40), justified Uthappa’s call bundling Maharashtra out for a paltry 105. Karnataka made 125 for one at close with opener KB Pawan leading the way with a composed unbeaten 74.<br /><br />The dismissal of their skipper Harshad Khadiwale mirrored the whole story of Maharashtra batting. The 20-year old was indecisive about the stroke to be played, and the vacillation resulted in him feathering Vinay to C M Gautam behind the stumps. <br />The subsequent top-order batsmen too seemed to be suffering from indecision, and Karnataka bowlers, especially Vinay, capitalised on it with a disciplined effort. The Davanagere lad moved the ball off the pitch away from batsmen, posing a tough challenge to the opposition. <br /><br />Maharashtra’s best hope of putting a touch of respectability to the total rested on Kedar Jhadav. The stylish 23-year old had scored a match-saving hundred in the previous game against Saurashtra but he could not recreate any magic moments as Vinay snaffled him with a delivery that moved just enough to find the edge of his bat for Manish Pandey to complete a smart catch at slips.<br /><br />Vinay removed Ankit Bawane and Ameya Shrikhande to complete a brilliant first spell that read 9-3-15-4, and with his new ball partner A Mithun jettisoning Rohan Bhosale, Maharashtra nose-dived to 30 for five just before the first drinks break. <br /><br />Recovery from such a situation demands plenty of application and hard work, but there was none in the late order to mount a rescue mission. A 31-run partnership between Ganesh Gaikwad and Rohit Motwani was the highest in Maharashtra innings.<br />With the four pace bowlers utilising the conditions well, Uthappa did not have to turn to his most experienced bowler, Sunil Joshi, who became the most-capped Ranji Trophy player for Karnataka on the day. The match against Maharashtra was the left-arm spinner’s 105th Ranji game for the State, surpassing Brijesh Patel’s tally of 104.<br /><br />Things got only better for Karnataka as their batsmen further pegged back Maharashtra, despite losing Uthappa early. The Karnataka skipper was harshly adjudged leg-before to left-arm paceman Samad Fallah and the batsman had to tear himself away from the crease. But the joy of early success did not last long for Maharashtra as K B Pawan and Ganesh Satish methodically dismantled the Maharashtra attack on a vastly improved pitch to fetch visitors the first innings lead, laying the foundation for a batting charge on the morrow.<br /><br />Pawan was impressive while notching up a fifty of high class, laced with attractive shots and a remarkable awareness about the situation. With Satish too joining the party with some solid shots, Maharashtra soon faded away from the picture.<br />DH News Service</p>
