Batting collapses end K'taka's Ranji season
Vivek M V, Visakhapatnam, Dec 25, 2016, DHNS:
With India internationals K L Rahul, Karun Nair and Manish Pandey in their squad, Karnataka were heavy favourites against their arch-rival Tamil Nadu in the Ranji Trophy quarterfinal encounter.
But in a remarkable turn of events, a young Tamil Nadu side upstaged their mighty opponents with what in the end appeared a comfortable seven-wicket victory, clinching a place in the semi-final.
Karnataka, the eight-time champion, played with their full-strength squad for the first time this season, but R Vinay Kumar’s men crashed to a shock defeat in under two days, following a dismal batting performance on a green-top.
Young medium pacer Aswin Crist bagged 6 for 31 to help Tamil Nadu skittle Karnataka for a paltry 88 in the first innings on Friday’s opening day. Karnataka staged a minor fightback to restrict Abhinav Mukund’s men for 152.
However, Karnataka, trailing by 64, suffered another batting collapse and folded for 150 in their second innings. Tamil Nadu chased down the 87-run target with ease to end Karnataka’s title hopes.
With a good group-stage record — five wins, two draws and a defeat — Karnataka came into the last-eight tie with loads of confidence. But a shock batting collapses drew curtains on their campaign.
None of their batsmen crossed the 30-run mark in the first innings and barring Rahul’s fighting 77 in the second essay, no other batsman got past the 20-run mark.
Nair’s fitness concerns also didn’t help Karnataka. The 25-year-old, who made 14 and 12, suffered abdominal pain and looked in obvious discomfort in both the innings.
Pacer Abhimanyu Mithun was playing his second game after an ankle injury and didn’t make a great impact.
“I am a bit disappointed with the batting this season when compared to the bowling. But this surface was a very difficult one to bat on. Overall, disappointed with the exit, but lots of positives to take from the campaign,” said Vinay after the match. Karnataka had crashed out in the group stage last season as well.
But in a remarkable turn of events, a young Tamil Nadu side upstaged their mighty opponents with what in the end appeared a comfortable seven-wicket victory, clinching a place in the semi-final.
Karnataka, the eight-time champion, played with their full-strength squad for the first time this season, but R Vinay Kumar’s men crashed to a shock defeat in under two days, following a dismal batting performance on a green-top.
Young medium pacer Aswin Crist bagged 6 for 31 to help Tamil Nadu skittle Karnataka for a paltry 88 in the first innings on Friday’s opening day. Karnataka staged a minor fightback to restrict Abhinav Mukund’s men for 152.
However, Karnataka, trailing by 64, suffered another batting collapse and folded for 150 in their second innings. Tamil Nadu chased down the 87-run target with ease to end Karnataka’s title hopes.
With a good group-stage record — five wins, two draws and a defeat — Karnataka came into the last-eight tie with loads of confidence. But a shock batting collapses drew curtains on their campaign.
None of their batsmen crossed the 30-run mark in the first innings and barring Rahul’s fighting 77 in the second essay, no other batsman got past the 20-run mark.
Nair’s fitness concerns also didn’t help Karnataka. The 25-year-old, who made 14 and 12, suffered abdominal pain and looked in obvious discomfort in both the innings.
Pacer Abhimanyu Mithun was playing his second game after an ankle injury and didn’t make a great impact.
“I am a bit disappointed with the batting this season when compared to the bowling. But this surface was a very difficult one to bat on. Overall, disappointed with the exit, but lots of positives to take from the campaign,” said Vinay after the match. Karnataka had crashed out in the group stage last season as well.
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