MYSORE: If it was Avishkar Salvi for Mumbai in the morning, it was Abhimanyu Mithun for Karnataka later. The two pace bowlers did enough to leave the Ranji Trophy final on a knife’s edge on Tuesday.
A total of 14 wickets tumbled on the second day with Karnataka being bowled out for a paltry 130 as Salvi bagged 5 for 31. A first innings lead of 103 was big enough on thought. But Karnataka fought back with vengeance as Abhimanyu Mithin, in a fiery spell of controlled swing bowling, snapped up four for 39 to leave Mumbai tottering at 108 for five. An overall lead of 211 is what they have.
Karnataka batsmen failed to build partnerships and lost wickets at regular intervals. Avishkar Salvi, bowling a consistent line and length, proved too lethal for Karnataka as he ripped through the top order in his opening spell. He finished off with a five-wicket haul, which he rated as his best among the seven such figures in his career.
Overnight 15 for 1, Karnataka were bowled out for very low score of 130 runs, conceding 103 runs lead to Mumbai.
When it was expected that Stuart Binny and C M Gautham would continue the partnership, Binny got out trying to take an unwanted run. At lunch, Karnataka were 95 for 7 with Salvi picking up four wickets.
Karantaka soon lost their remaining wickets adding 35 runs to the total. This is the first time throughout the season that Karnataka has conceded the first innings lead to the opponents. K B Pawan emerged as the top scorer with 33 runs.
The rest of the batsmen failed to get past even 20 runs.
Abhimanyu Mithun pushed the Mumbaikars on the backseat by tearing apart the top order. He picked up three crucial wickets, that of Wasim Jaffer, Ajinkya Rahane and Khanvilkar. Vinay Kumar, sharing the new ball with Mithun, got opener Sahil Kukreja’s wicket. Abhishek Nayar and Dhawal Kulkarni fought back to build an unbroken partnership of 57 runs for the sixth wicket.
AGARKAR FINED
Mumbai’s Ajit Agarkar has been fined 50 per cent of his match fee for not leaving the wicket and entering into a prolonged discussion with the umpire after being given out on Monday.