Hosts Karnataka let Chandigarh off the hook

Hubballi: With Chandigarh at 8/2 in the sixth over, Karnataka bowlers had the early advantage. Two overs later they had the opportunity to scalp new bat Karan Kaila (79, 207b, 9x4). With the batter at 1 and the team score at 15/2, his drive to the covers was collected by Manish Pandey and dispatched to wicketkeeper Sharath Srinivas. Even as Kaila was well off the crease, Srinivas failed to gather the ball in time and hit the stumps. The slip-up proved expensive for Karnataka as they let Chandigarh off the hook on Day 1 of their last Ranji Trophy league engagement.At the KSCA stadium here on Friday, riding on the home team’s largesse, Chandigarh posted 219/6 in 89 overs. The surface offered some assistance for the pacers in the first hour after which it slowed down, making the bowlers toil in the baking sun with many deliveries falling short of the slip cordon. The visiting team’s score was bolstered by the edges between the slip fielders which found the boundary line.Birthday boy and Karnataka skipper Mayank Agarwal chose to bowl and his pacers got down to business right away. V Koushik drew first blood when Shivam Bhambri (0) miscued a drive and was taken by Nikin Jose in second slip. His opening partner Azlan Khan (8) followed soon after edging Vyshak Vijaykumar (2/48) to Sharath. M Venkatesh, who replaced a rested Vidwath Kaverappa, removed Chandigarh’s in-form skipper Manan Vohra, who tried to drive a delivery which came in and lost his stumps.With Chandigarh struggling at 37/3, Kaila, playing his ninth first-class match, showed remarkable temperament to blunt the Karnataka attack. During his 340-minute stay at the crease, the southpaw played the waiting game well. He also found support from Kunal Mahajan (34) and their 71-run, fourth-wicket association ensured Chandigarh were 85/3 at lunch.In the 13th over of the post-lunch session, spinner Hardik Raj (2/54), who bowled 28 overs on the day, found the gap between the bat and the pad to uproot Mahajan’s stumps. Soon, Hardik ended AK Kaushik’s (25) resistance.Kaila brought up his 50 off 116 balls and looked set for a big score but was adjudged leg before off Vyshak. The batter claimed his flick was going down leg, but had to walk. Wicketkeeper-bat Mayank Sidhu (31 n.o) saw off the remainder of the day with Gurinder Singh (10).SCOREBOARDChandigarh (1st innings): Shivam Bhambri c Jose b Koushik 0, Arslan Khan c Sharath b Vyshak 8, Manan Vohra b Venkatesh 21, Karan Kaila lbw Vyshak 79, Kunal Mahajan b Hardik 34, AK Kaushik c Sharath b Hardik 25, Mayank Sidhu (batting) 31, Gurinder Singh (batting) 10, Extras (LB-11): 11. Total (for 6 wkts; in 89 overs): 219. Fall of wickets: 1-4, 2-8, 3-37, 4-108, 5-154, 6-200. Bowling: Koushik 14-6-29-1, Vyshak Vijaykumar 15-1-48-2, M Venkatesh 15-2-41-1, Hardik Raj 28-9-54-2, Shashikumar 16-2-35-0, Samarth 1-0-1-0.