Wanted to start season well'

Bhavane declared fit to bat after suffering blow on hand

 As Karun Nair brought up his century with a late-cut for four off Pragyan Ojha, relief was writ large on his face.

An adverse umpiring decision in the first innings and a squandered start in the second against Assam in Guwahati had left him disappointed and the right-hander was determined not to repeat the mistake.

“It’s just that I wanted to start the season well,” Nair noted. “Once you get the start, like I did in the first game but couldn’t convert it, you have to make it big. It’s just the relief that I made it big (in this match). I think I played well, I was patient throughout. I didn’t play any rash shot, I was just waiting for the loose balls and it all worked out well,” he remarked.

Nair also praised Manish Pandey, who struck a breezy half-century to wrest the initiative, for injecting confidence into him. “I think Manish batted really well,” he said. “He came out and batted positively and that actually helped me a lot. I got a lot of loose balls because of him playing in aggressive fashion. It’s a bit disappointing that he got out for 50-odd but still we are in a good position and tomorrow we would like to capitalise on it.”

The 23-year-old felt the pitch may begin to aid bowlers towards the end of third day. “Right now it’s good to bat,” he began. “Outside the leg-stump obviously footmarks will be there. Generally the pitch is good but the cracks are opening up. Tomorrow by the end of the day, it may become a bit difficult to bat. I think until lunch or even tea, it will remain the same,” he offered.

Karnataka team manager B Siddaramu, meanwhile, confirmed that Shishir Bhavane was fit to bat on Saturday. “He is ok. He took an x-ray and CT scan and it’s only an impact (injury)… There’s no swelling or fracture and he is fit. He is ready to bat.”

Bhavane was hit on his left-arm, his leading arm, by an Ashok Dinda delivery and walked off the field grimacing in pain following a medical attention.