BENGALURU: When Karnataka lost nightwatchman
Ronit More
(8) five overs into the final day, it would have been understandable if Rajasthan fancied the prospect of a win at that point. At 56 for 4, Karnataka still needed 128 runs from a batting order that has tended to be indifferent at times.
In walked skipper
Manish Pandey (87 n.o., 75b, 14x4, 2x6), clearly determined and with a definitive plan in mind. He joined
Karun Nair
(61 n.o., 129b, 6x4) and the two dashed Rajasthan's hopes with an unbroken 129-run stand. The most accomplished batsmen in the Karnataka team made the chase-184 runs- look like child's play as the hosts notched up a six-wicket victory in the
Ranji Trophy quarterfinal.
Nair and More added 11 carefully-grafted runs off 30 balls before a fuller delivery from Tanveer Ul-Haq flicked the outside edge of More's bat. Wicketkeeper Chetan Bist gleefully pouched the offering, although the third umpire was called in after it appeared Haq had overstepped. However, the delivery was adjudged to be fair.
Pandey took the opposition by surprise by counter-attacking right from the get-go. It was more fearless than crisp, but Rajasthan's attack reeled. Haq was dispatched thrice to the boundary in an over. The first was miscued and reached the fence courtesy fielder Salman Khan, who overran the ball. The other two - of consecutive balls - were dangerous edges.
Those close calls did nothing to change Pandey's intent or shake Nair's confidence. Rajasthan, perhaps, felt the match slipping away, but they appeared at a loss for ideas. For one, they decided to persist with pacers at both ends for another six overs, despite the ball keeping low. They also decided to spread the field, allowing Pandey and Nair to find the gaps, especially between the slips.
Some of Pandey's aggressive intent appeared to rub off on Nair, who initially was subdued and patient. One boundary, smoked through extra cover off
Aniket Choudhary, was delectable. By the time spinner Rahul Chahar was introduced, Karnataka were steaming along.
NAIR BACK IN THE GROOVEBarring a half-century against Saurashtra, Nair has had an ordinary season, and perhaps - in another game and another team - would have been dropped. He certainly has the credentials of being a big-match player, but like opener R Samarth, he has had the backing of Pandey. It paid off.
With each passing over, Nair grew in confidence. The footwork was assured, the shot-selection astute and the focus unwavering. Rahul Chahar did attempt to distract when his audacious appeal for a caught-behind was turned down. The bowler flung his shades in disgust, but Nair motored on, taking a single to bring up his half-century in the same over.
LIFELINE FOR PANDEYPandey lived dangerously and almost gave Rajasthan the opportunity to sneak back into the match when he hit straight to
Deepak Chahar
, Rahul's cousin, at mid-on. Karnataka were 119/4 at that stage, but the fielder grassed the sitter.
From there on, Karnataka were untroubled. Pandey played to the sizeable gallery, smashing Rahul over mid-off for a maximum and a boundary in the same over. Fittingly, he brought up the victory with a pull shot to the boundary.
Deservingly, R Vinay Kumar, who shared a 97-run last wicket stand with More en route to a match-changing unbeaten 83, was named the man of the match.
In the semifinals, Karnataka, will take on the winner of the quarterfinal between Uttar Pradesh and Saurashtra.
SCOREBOARDRajasthan (Ist Innings): 224Karnataka (Ist Innings): 263Rajasthan (2nd Innings): 222.Karnataka (2nd Innings, o/n: 45/3): Karun Nair (not out) 61, Ronit More c Chetan Bist b Haq 8, Manish Pandey (not out) 87.
Total (for 4 wkts; 47.5 overs) 185.Fall of wickets: 1-6, 2-14, 3-40.Bowling: Deepak Chahar 6-0-18-0, Aniket Choudhary 13-0-32-2, Tanveer Ul-Haq 11-1-46-1, Rahul Chahar 11.5-0-63-0, Mahipal Lomror 6-1-19-1.
Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
Start a Conversation
Post comment