 |
Saurashtra v Karnataka, Ranji Trophy, 3rd day
Saurashtra stumble after sound start
The Bulletin by Anand Vasu in Rajkot
January 12, 2007
Day 3 Saurashtra 352 for 8 (Vaghela 101, Pujara 62) trail Karnataka 570 by 218 runs
Scorecard
|
Cheteshwar Pujara picked the right moment to come good as his 62 earned him a place among the World Cup probables
© International Cricket Council
|
|
Amidst all the excitement that swamped the Madhavrao Scindia Stadium in
Rajkot over the selection of the Indian team for the first two one-dayers
against West Indies and the probables for the World Cup, the Ranji Trophy
match between Karnataka and Saurashtra was reduced to a mere sideshow. But
as shows went, it wasn't a bad one, as Saurashtra put up a good performance
before losing their way a bit and ending the day on 352 for 8. The batting
of three youngsters showed that Saurashtra cricket was healthy, even if
this match is fast slipping out of their grasp.
Starting the day on 103 for no loss, with Sagar Jogiyani and Kaniaya
Vaghela having batted with control, authority and optimism in the dying
moments of the second day, something odd happened. The fluency and
attractive strokeplay of the previous day was replaced by hesitancy and
some decidedly dour batting. The flow of runs dried up, and automatically
Karnataka's bowlers were able to exert their influence.
Only 33 was added to the overnight score before Jogiyani (80) was bowled
by Raju Bhatkal, the debutant mediumpacer. Bhatkal had begun rather poorly
yesterday, being hit for four through cover in his first ball in
first-class cricket, but the nerves had clearly settled and he was far
better. Pratik Joshi replaced Jogiyani, and made a start, getting to 15
before becoming Bhatkal's second victim, caught behind by Thilak Naidu.
Shitanshu Kotak has been the mainstay of Saurashtra's batting for so long
now that there was still room for optimism when he walked out to bat with
the score on 154 for 2. But Kotak is a grafter, someone who nudges and
nurdles rather than give the ball a whack, and a slightly ambitious shot
was his undoing. Having spent three quarters of an hour at the crease for
only 9 he drove the offspin of Udit Patel uppishly and was caught at cover
by Yere Goud.
Cheteshwar Pujara, the man of the hour, having just been picked in the
World Cup probables, joined Vaghela, who had settled into a nice rhythm
and had little trouble against the bowling even as wickets fell at
the other end. Pujara too played some pleasing strokes, especially a
wristy flick through midwicket and flowing drive through cover. The two
added 108 for the fourth wicket, and it took a break of play to separate
them. In the first ball after tea, Vaghela, who had batted with great grit
for his 101, spooned a catch back to B Akhil.
From there on it was all downhill for Saurashtra. Pujara made 62, but was
bowled by Vinay Kumar, and the wickets began to fall at regular intervals.
When the day ended, the game as a contest was
over. But then again, this game has hardly held centrestage, rather it has
been the fulcrum around which many events have unfolded in Rajkot. And the
locals certainly weren't especially worried about the result of the match,
with their team already having secured a place in the Super League (Elite group) for
the next year of the Ranji Trophy. In fact, the biggest whoop of delight
came away from the field, when Niranjan Shah, who, as secretary of the
Board of Control for Cricket in India, read out the last name in the list
of probables, and it was Pujara.
Anand Vasu is assistant editor of Cricinfo
© Cricinfo
|
