Karnataka dictate terms with 324-run first innings lead

Karnataka rode on a collective batting effort to reach a commanding position with a 324-run first innings lead over Delhi on the second day of their Ranji Trophy group B match here on Friday.

Resuming at 131 for three, Karnataka stretched their first innings to 414 when the last batsman Sreenath Aravind (14) got out. With only one over left to be bowled for the day, the umpires drew the stumps at the Eden Gardens.

Delhi had been skittled out for 90 on the first day.

The highlight of the Karnataka innings was five individual half-centuries, three of them coming during the day.

Overnight not out batsman Skipper Karun Nair (53; 88b, 5x4, 2x6) put on 89 for the fifth wicket with Kaunain Abbas (52; 115b, 6x4), before left arm spinner Varun Sood caught the former of his own bowling.

Sood then accounted for Abbas by getting him plumb in front, but Stuart Binny came up with a useful 32, and Chidambaram Gautam played a gritty knock (63 not out; 143b, 9x4) to consolidate Karnataka's position.

Gautam and Shreyas Gopal (46; 90b, 8x4) were involved in a 77-run eighth wicket stand, that piled on the misery for the Delhi bowlers.

Spinner Manan Sharma evicted Gopal, while Sood plotted the dismissal of tailenders krishnappa Gowtham and Aravind to finish as the most successful bowler (4/80). Medium pacer Vikas Tokas (3/81) was another main wicket taker for Delhi.

Delhi pacer Ishant Sharma received a caution from the umpire for repeatedly going to the danger end on his follow through during his last spell.

Brief scores: Delhi 90 all out (R Pant 24, D Shorey 24; S Aravind 4/12), Karnataka 414 all out (C Gautam 63 not out, Mayank Agarwal 56, R Samarth 53, K Nair 53, K Abbas 52; V Sood 4/80, AV Tokas 3/81).

---IANS

ssp/sam/dg