Karnataka squander advantage

Insipid Karnataka batsmen squandered the advantage their bowlers earned on the second day of the South Zone under-16 tournament for the Vijay Merchant Trophy at the SDNRW stadium here on Friday. 

Karnataka bowlers did not waste too much time in bundling out Kerala for 205 in their first innings after the visitors resumed from their overnight 173 for seven. Left-arm spinner Shubang Hegde, who took three wickets the previous day, went on to capture three more wickets this day for excellent innings figures of six for 30 in 28.2 overs. 

The home side had a brilliant chance to take a firm grip on the match. But they crumbled against a set of spot-on Kerala bowlers, folding for 208 in their first essay for a narrow first innings lead of three runs. Kerala reached four for no loss in their second innings to take a one-run lead at close. 

After the early loss of opener Dev Padikal for nought, Karnataka recovered through Nikin Jose (92, 215b, 13x4) and Manoj Bhandage (64, 77b, 6x4, 1x6). Nikin and Manoj added 118 runs in 167 balls as Karnataka reached 130 for one in 32.5 overs, and looked poised for a formidable first innings total. 

But leg-spinner R Unnikrishnan dismissed Manoj and the dismissal triggered a collapse. Karnataka lost their next eight wickets for 75 runs. 

Brief scores: At Mysore: Kerala: 205 all out in 115.2 overs (R Unnikrishnan 48; Shubang Hegde 6-30) and 4 for no loss vs Karnataka: 208 all out in 72.3 overs (Nikin Jose 92, Manoj Bhandage 64; Vishnu P Kumar 3-29, R Unnikrishnan 2-42). Andhra: 159 all out in 58.4 overs and 70/2 in 32 overs (Maheep Kumar 36) vs Tamil Nadu: 240 all out in 88.4 overs (R Sonu Yadav 105, P Praveen Kumar 36; UAV Verma 4-71, Surya Kumar C 3-45). At Mandya: Goa: 91 all out and 28/1 in 16 overs vs Hyderabad: 288/9 decl in 123.4 overs (B Revanth 122, G Madhu Kumar 94; Sanyat Kanekar 5-63, Hitesh Talwar 3-97).