Leggie Gopal brings Karnataka back with quick wickets

Leg-spinner Shreyas Gopal denied Aditya Shrivastava (91) a hundred in a three-wicket haul as Karnataka reduced Madhya Pradesh to 270 for seven on the opening day of their Ranji Trophy Group A cricket match, here today.

The hosts were going good after early loss of opener Jalaj Saxena (0) as Shrivastava and Anand Bains (34) stitched together a 74-run stand for the second wicket after they elected to bat.

Gopal (3/48) dismissed Bains to break the partnership but Naman Ojha was a good replacement at the crease as the wicket-keeper batsman scored a 54-run knock, which had three fours and as many sixes.

With Shrivastava he brought up a 109-run stand, which was broken when Gopal sent back the MP opener. Ojha was also dismissed in the next over, bowled by off-spinner Udit Patel.
Gopal struck again by trapping rival skipper Devendra Bundela (1). The hosts were now struggling at 186 for five.

However, Harpreet Singh, batting at number six, scored a quick-fire 53 with eight fours and a six to lend some respectability to his team's total.

Seasoned paceman Abhimanyu Mithun removed him at the fag end of the day to expose Madhya Pradesh's tail.

Amkit Sharama (11) and SS Jain (12) though ensured that the hosts do not lose any more wicket before the end of the play.

Brief Scores:

Madhya Pradesh 1st innings: 270 for 7 in 90 overs (Aditya Shrivastava 91, Naman Ojha 54, Harpreet Singh 53; Shreyas Gopal (3/48)).