PANAJI
Test discard Karun Nair led Karnataka's fightback with a strokeful unbeaten 86 (138b, 7x4, 1x6) and raised an unbroken 94-run sixth wicket stand with allrounder, Shreyas Gopal on a patient 48 (84b, 5x4, 1x6) as the home side went to stumps at 222-5 in a second round Ranji Trophy Elite Group B clash against Goa at the KSCA Navule Stadium in Shimoga on Saturday.
Put into bat, after an hour-and-half delayed start, Karnataka began their innings on a watchful note with openers, Nikin Jose on 2 and captain, Mayank Agarawal on 11, and the side at 15-0 in 12 overs at lunch. Former Karnataka pacer, Vasuki Koushik stood out in his six-over burst in the Goa attack before lunch.
Upon resumption, the visitors seized control as Karnataka were reduced to 65-4 with pacers, Arjun Tendulkar and Vasuki Koushik, combining well to share the spoils. Koushik, was particularly very impressive as Tendulkar provided able foil as the duo hunted for wickets as a potent pair. Nikin Jose was first to depart for a laborious 48-ball 3 with Manthan Khutkar ending his misery at short leg off Left arm Medium fast Tendulkar. Shortly after, wicketkeeper K L Shrijith perished for no score, nicking one behind to Samar Dubhashi off Tendulkar. A well-set Karnataka captain Mayank Agarawal on 28 edged one to first slip and was pouched by his opposite number, Snehal Kauthankar off Right arm Medium, Vasuki Koushik. Smaran R on 3 was taken at gully by Abhinav Tejrana as Koushik bagged another scalp.
A rock-solid Karun Nair on 44 (74b, 2x4, 1x6) found resoluteness in Abhinav Manohar to resuscitate the innings with a 63-run fifth wicket stand. Against the run of play, Manohar was brilliantly caught at mid wicket by Koushik off Tendulkar for a promising 37. Karnataka went to tea at 128-5 in the 45th over with their backs against the wall, in batting friendly conditions.
In the final session, only 24.4 overs were possible , when bad light stopped play. Karnataka recovered well to reach 222-5. Seasoned campaigners, Karun Nair on 86 and Shreyas Gopal on 48 were at a crease with a chanceless 94-run sixth-wicket unbroken alliance.
Karnataka made four changes in their playing eleven with Abhinav Manohar, V Vyshak, Yashovardhan Parantap and Vidwath Kaverappa coming in for Devdutt Padikkal (on India A duty), Shikhar Shetty, Venkatesh M and Mohsin Khan.
For Goa, Snehal Kauthankar, Vasuki Koushik and Vijesh Prabhudessai replaced Deepraj Gaonkar, Kashyap Bakhale and Heramb Parab.
Speaking to The Goan at the end of the opening day's play, Goa captain, Snehal Kauthankar was pleased by his side's performance. "It was an important toss to win, and we went in with three fast bowlers - Vasuki Koushik, Arjun Tendulkar and Vijesh Prabhudessai given that the wicket will be helpful to the pacers," Kauthankar revealed. "In the first two sessions, the match was in our control, but the wicket did get better in the last session," the seasoned batter stated. "Though the wicket is nicely settling in, it still has something on offer for our fast bowlers. If we get them all out for less than 300, with our strong batting line-up, we look good to surpass their total," the Goa captain said.
BRIEF SCORE
>Karnataka. 222-5 in 69 overs (Karun Nair 86*; Arjun Tendulkar 3-47, Koushik V 2-24) v Goa
