Madhya Pradesh’s Harpreet Singh Bhatia throughout his unbeaten 75 in opposition to Karnataka within the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy opener on the Holkar Stadium in Indore on Friday, October 11, 2024.
| Picture Credit score: N. SUDARSHAN
It was even-stevens at stumps on day one in every of Karnataka’s Ranji Trophy Elite Group-C opener in opposition to Madhya Pradesh on the Holkar Stadium right here on Friday.
On a largely overcast however humid day, the hosts, after being requested to bat first, reached 232 for 4 from 83 overs. Harpreet Singh Bhatia’s unbeaten 75 (164b, 8×4) was the spotlight, however the incapacity of the opposite batters, together with Rajat Patidar (31, 61b, 3×4), to construct on begins ensured that Karnataka — which handed batter R. Smaran a debut — was very a lot within the sport.
Captain Shubham Sharma (40, 88b, 2×4) was additionally stretchered off due to a muscle pull in his leg, however the middle-order bat is anticipated to take the sector once more.
Early strike
In a single day rain meant there was some assistance on provide for the bowlers, and speedster Prasidh Krishna, in his first Ranji sport since January, struck instantly, trapping Himanshu Mantri (0) in entrance within the second over of the day.
However the downpour additionally rendered the outfield barely soggy, which seemingly performed on the Karnataka fielders’ minds, for they had been hesitant in going for a lot of a ball.
Even Manish Pandey, a high-quality fielder with an economic system of motion, clutched his knee, went down and hobbled off in a single occasion when the ball was nowhere near him.
Skipper Mayank Agarwal, nevertheless, impressed with a few diving saves and his vitality was solely matched by an intruder who ran in to click on a selfie with Patidar however needed to be content material with a handshake after the on-field umpire’s intervention.
The MP batters had been affected person for many half, however a rush of blood price Subhransu Senapati (28, 61b, 4×4), as he miscued a pull off Vyshak to be the second batter out, caught by wicketkeeper Sujay Sateri. This was Senapati’s maiden First Class sport for MP after shifting from Odisha.
Yash Dubey (20, 76b, 2×4) was adjudged caught behind, down the leg-side, off left-arm spinner Hardik Raj, a choice the batter wasn’t too proud of.
Essential alliances
The consecutive half-century partnerships Harpreet mixed for with Shubham and Patidar propped up the innings. Harpreet, a veteran of 75 First Class matches and somebody, like Senapati, who had simply moved to MP, showcased his pressure-handling abilities when confronted with some tight bowling.
The affiliation with Shubham fetched 66 runs and the one with Patidar 53. If Patidar had not been seduced into driving straight to the arms of the purpose fielder by a large loosener-like supply from V. Koushik, issues might have been completely different. Harpreet was reprieved as soon as, on 42 by Devdutt Padikkal at gully, however it was a troublesome probability.
Basking within the solar
Submit-tea, Venkatesh Iyer introduced in some urgency (25, 46b, 2×6). Because the solar broke by way of for the primary time, Venkatesh bloomed, launching leggie Shreyas Gopal over mid-wicket for a most after which dancing down the observe to hammer Koushik straight down the bottom.
For the remainder of the night, when Venkatesh batted, there was long-on and long-off stationed, a transparent signal as to who had received the mini contest. Saturday will resolve who takes management of the bigger battle.
Printed – October 12, 2024 09:07 am IST
