Laxman slams ton to force a draw

Besides, the left handed Daniel Manohar, batted with great circumspection and with the dogged Nandakishore lending him good support, killed the home team’s hopes in the first session itself.

Nandakishore today was unflappable. He pitched tent in the middle and nothing the Karnataka bowlers did bothered him. He defended stoutly at everything hurled at him and totally frustrated the bowlers.

Daniel Manohar, like in the first innings, batted with great responsibility. The pair added 79 runs for the first wicket. More than the runs, it was the time they consumed that thwarted Karnataka.

Just before lunch, Manohar was caught bat and pad for a well made 49. After that it was Laxman all the way.

The tall, stylish Hyderabad skipper punished the loose ball, even as he picked ones and twos off the better deliveries. His relaxed style of batting even inspired Nandakishore to occasionally break out of his defensive shell. By the time the second wicket pair, which put on 70 runs, were through, the last of Karnataka’s hopes of an outright victory had evaporated.

Nandakishore played one of the slowest innings no doubt. But every minute of the 240-minute knock was invaluable. He made 43 runs before being caught and bowled by Yalvigi.

The only other interest in the match was how soon Laxman would reach his century. He did in the post-tea break off the last delivery of the ninth mandatory over. The match was promptly called off by mutual consent. Laxman’s 100 came in 181 balls and was studded with 11 boundaries and a six.

Karnataka picked up five points from this encounter while Hyderabad settled for three. Karnataka next take on Tamil Nadu in Chennai from November 8 to 11. On the same dates Hyderabad clash with Kerala at home.

Scoreboard

Karnataka (1st Innings) 545 for 9 decl
Hyderabad (1st Innings) 291

Hyderabad (2nd Innings); (Overnight 15 for no loss)
Daniel Manohar c Barrington b Joshi 49, Nandakishore c & b Yalvigi 43, VVS Laxman (Not Out) 100, Vanka Pratap (Not Out) 26. Extras: (b5, 7lb, 2nb, 1w) 15 Total: (for 2 wickets in 88 overs, 374 mins) 233
Fall of wickets: 1-79, 2-149

Bowling: Venkatesh Prasad 12-4-18-0, Javagal Srinath 7-1-19-0, Dodda Ganesh 11-4-19-0, Sunil Joshi 26-5-81-1, Anand Yalvigi 26-4-72-1, Sujith Somasundar 5-1-12-0, Arunkumar 1-1-0-0

Bharadwaj to lead

Bangalore: Vijay R Bharadwaj has been named skipper of the Karnataka team for the coming Ranji trophy cricket tie against Tamil Nadu beginning at Chennai on November 8.

The team: Vijay Bharadwaj (Capt), B Akhil, Anand Yalvigi, Arun Kumar, Barrington Rowland, Dharmichand, Dodda Ganesh, Mahesh A R, Mansur Ali Khan, Mithun Beerala, Rajashekar Shanbal, Santosh Vadeyaraj, Sujith Somasundar, Sunil Kumar and Thilak Naidu (wk).

Coach: S M H Kirmani. Manager:

J Abhiram.

Pathak excels for Andhra

Vijaywada: A fighting century by Amit Pathakand his first wicket stand of 101 with L N prasad Reddy (43) featured Andhra’s drawn tie with Kerala on the final day of the South Zone Ranji Trophy match here on Saturday.

When play was called off after eight mandatory overs, Andhra were 228 for three wickets.

Pathak, who notched his tenth Ranji hundred, batted for 260 minutes and hit one six and thirteen fours. Reddy, who occupied the crease for 160 minutes, had six fours in his valuable knock of 43.

Debutant Gnaneswara Rao, who was out for a duck in the first innings, batted well on the final day and scored a fine half-century. The sixteen-year-old Gnaneswara Rao went on to make an unbeaten 56. He hit one six and six fours. RVC Prasad remained unbeaten with 20 including four fours.

Kerala secured five points and Andhra three from the drawn match.

Brief Scores: Andhra (1st Innings) 244

Andhra (2nd Innings) 228 for three: (Amit Pathak 101, Y Gnaneshwara Rao Not Out 56, L N Prasad 43, K N Anantha Padmanabhan 3/60)

Kerala (1st innings) 461 for 7 decl: (Ajay Kudua Not Out 158, Suresh Kumar Not Out 101, Varun Girilal 84, N Madukar 3/116, H Watekar 3/115).