BANGALORE: Central to the point of the Duleep Trophy cricket clash on Saturday was that South will not lose it. In ensuring that, their wicket-keeper Dinesh Karthik scripted history of sorts by becoming only the sixth batsmen in the tournament’s long history to hammer a century in each innings at the Chinnaswamy Stadium.
South Zone are now on their way to Rajkot for a semifinal clash against North Zone with the winners taking on either West Zone or East Zone in the final in Chennai.
Yes, former India and Karnataka skipper Rahul Dravid too played a big part with a composed century (118) as did Hyderabad lad Arjun Yadav who notched up an impressive 68.
That their skipper V.V.S. Laxman could not come out to field or bat due to a sprained left ankle hardly mattered. Laxman was out for a jog before the start. He stepped on to the ropes marking boundaries and hurt himself.
But all these would have hardly mattered had not South Zone denied Central the mere four runs required to take the vital first innings lead. For they lost their last wicket in the very second ball of the day. Trouble? Dial Laxmipathy Balaji. Yes, of course with the Lord of the Seven Hills, the Lord of the 22 yards as well. For none can lord over it to dismiss opponents who are in a winning position as only he can.
Balaji proved that against Bengal with a sixwicket haul in the Ranji Trophy quarterfinal at the same venue. Balaji once again did the trick. He had bowled just one ball of his 28th over on Friday evening. As he continued the attack, his first delivery was left by last man Umesh Yadav to wicketkeeper Karthik. His second was a good length delivery which swung in. Yadav went for a drive, only got a tickle and played it onto his stumps.
Central’s hopes were lost in the morning dew.
But as South began their second innings, Central hit back and threatened to stage a miraculous comeback again. Robin Uthappa had given South a dream start smacking four boundaries but that was all. Abhinav Mukund followed him soon clean bowled by a Pankaj Singh delivery. Badrinath, batting despite a palm injury edged Pankaj’s rising delivery to wicketkeeper Ojha and South were looking down the barrel at 3 for 24. With Laxman unable to bat, they were 4 for 24 for all practical purposes.
But the experienced Rahul Dravid, pieced together two big partnerships, first of 154 runs with Arjun Yadav and then another 125 runs with Dinesh Karthik.
Arjun was stumped by Ojha as he went forward to drive and missed Murali Kartik’s wellpitched up delivery after making a soild 68 with 10 fours and a six. Therafter Dinesh Karthik to take charge.
When he came on, Rahul Dravid was on 73.
By the time Rahul got to his century, Karthik had neared his 50. At close Karthik remained unbeaten with 103, inclusive of 17 boundaries and a lot more to come.
After 287 minutes, 218 balls and 19 fours and six, Rahul tried to flick Bhuvanweshwar off his pads and edged to Ojha who picked up his third catch apart from that Arjun stumping.
Karthik’s feat
Dinesh Karthik became only the sixth player in the history of the Duleep Trophy to score a century in each innings. He achieved the unique distinction at the Chinnaswamy Stadium.
Bharat Pillai 129 and 103 in 1987-88 was the first. Akash Chopra made 110 and 125 in 2000-01 to emulate Pillai. Wasim Jaffer was the third with 122 and 103 not out in 2001-02. Yuvraj Singh 106 and 148 and England’s Kevin Pietersen 104 and 115 joined the club in the 2003-04 season. Foreign teams were allowed to take part in the Duleep Trophy that season.
South Zone (1st innings) 329 all out; Central Zone (1st innings, overnight, 326 for 9) Murali Kartik not out 23, Umesh Yadav b Balaji 0. Extras: (b4, lb5, w7, nb6) 22. Total (all out in 100.3 overs) 326.
Fall of wickets: 1-52, 2-65, 3-65, 4-78, 5-205, 6-265, 7-266, 8-323, 9-326. Bowling: L. Balaji 28.3-8-72-3; Sreesanth 25-4-92-3; R. Ashwin 26-1-86-1; Robin Uthappa 11-2-41-2; M. Suresh 10-1-26-1.
South Zone (2nd innings): Abhinav Mukund b Pankaj Singh 1, Robin Uthappa c Piyush Chawla b Bhuvaneshwar Kumar 16, Rahul Dravid c Naman Ojha b Bhuvaneshwar Kumar 118, S. Badrinath c Naman Ojha b Pankaj Singh 0, Arjun Yadav st Naman Ojha b Murali Kartik 68, Dinesh Karthik batting 103, M.Suresh c Naman Ojha b Umesh Yadav 15, R. Ashwin not out 4.
Extras (b4, lb9, w6, nb1) 20.
Total (for 6 wkts in 88 overs) 345. Fall of wickets: 1-23, 2-23, 3-24, 4-178, 5-303, 6-337.
Bowling: Pankaj Singh 17-5-61-2; Bhuvaneshwar Kumar 23-2-66-2; Umesh Yadav 19-0-77-1; Murali Kartik 15-3-56-1; Parvinder Singh 5-0-29-0; Piyush Chawla 9-0-43-0.