Karnataka consolidates its position against Uttar Pradesh as lead swells

Karnataka fortified its already strong position in the Col. C.K. Nayudu (u23) Trophy final against Uttar Pradesh by securing a firstinnings lead of 219 and then swelling it to 310 by close on day two at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium here on Monday.

Though the home side could only add 33 runs to its overnight total of 325 for five, the bowlers, led by leftarm spinner Paras Gurbax Arya (five for 35) skittled UP out for 139.

In its second essay, Karnataka reached 91 for no loss with MacNeil H. Noronha (33 batting, 99b, 2x4, 1x6) and Prakar Chaturvedi (55 batting, 88b, 7x4, 2x6) at the crease.

UP lost a wicket in the very first over, but stabilised itself through a 43run partnership between Rituraj Sharma (26) and Kritagya Singh (21). But Gurbax Arya, along with the offspinner Mohsin Khan (two for 40) ran through the UP batting order reducing the team from 48 for one to 64 for six. The key wicket of UP skipper Sameer Rizvi (0) was also Gurbax’s.

Aaradhya Yadav (66, 94b, 6x4, 1x6) and Vipraj Nigam (20) led a mild recovery, from 64 to 112, but that didn’t do much to change their side’s fortunes. For Karnataka, batter Yashovardhan Parantap, from an overnight 84, got to a hundred (105, 129b, 16x4).

The scores:

Karnataka 358 in 99.5 overs (Yashovardhan Parantap 105, Kruthik Krishna 66, MacNeil H. Noronha 68, Prakar Chaturvedi 33, K.V. Aneesh 43, Vipraj Nigam 4/51) & 91/0 in 31 overs (Noronha 33 batting, Chaturvedi 55 batting) vs Uttar Pradesh 139 in 46.2 overs (Aaradhya Yadav 66, Rituraj Sharma 26, Gurbax Arya 5/35).

AP Saviour: Carey’s unbeaten 98 got Australia out of trouble and helped it ace a tense chase.

K. MURALI KUMAR Spinning a web: Gurbax was the wrecker-in-chief with a five-for as Karnataka dismissed UP cheaply.