In a match where pressure is on both teams, emotions are quite likely to take over at some point of time
In a match where pressure is on both teams, emotions are quite likely to take over at some point of time.
Day Three of the Ranji Trophy final between Karnataka and Mumbai yesterday was no different.
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Mumbai's Ajit Agarkar celebrates Karnataka batsman K B Pawan's wicket on the third day of the Ranji Trophy final played in Mysore yesterday. PIC/Suresh KK |
With the match on tenterhooks right till the end of day's play with Karnataka on 135 for 3, still needing 203 to win, the tension was palpable and the danger of tempers flaring up threatened at most times through the day.
It finally happened when Ajit Agarkar, who was run out in controversial circumstances in the first innings, was caught by Robin Uthappa at short cover, the Karnataka captain seemed to have sledged the Mumbai pacer as he was walking back. Agarkar was quite upset and motioned to umpire Sanjay Hazare to talk to Uthappa about his behaviour. While Agarkar may have been wrong in advising the umpire, Hazare did have a word with Uthappa.
And after Agarkar ran through the home team's top order in a fiery bowling display returning figures of 12-5-26-3, Uthappa would have been wishing he had not angered the pacer.
"Uthappa said something to Agarkar and he reported it to the umpire. He was quite upset and bowled with that anger. It helped us because he managed to get three crucial wickets. We realised Agarkar was quite angry but decided not to try and calm him down. A bowler bowls better when he is angry. He is our senior bowler and we wanted him to lead the way and he did. If luck was on his side, we could have got a couple of wickets more" Amre said.
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Karnataka skipper Robin Uthappa (centre) is warned by umpire Sanjay Hazare after his spat with Ajit Agarkar in Mysore yesterday. PIC/Suresh KK |
Agarkar also had the last laugh after he dismissed Uthappa, who had dropped himself down the order, for 4.
Agarkar ran about 40 yards and there was a collective cheer from the team as Uthappa was making his way to the pavilion.
"Uthappa started it and we had to give it back. That's the only way to go about it. If you don't return what you get, then the opposition will continue doing it.
"Anyway he did not open the innings and came at four, so it showed that he was under pressure. We put more pressure on him when he came to bat and that helped in dismissing him. Such things are normal in cricket as long as we make sure it does not go out of hand," Amre said.
With both teams under immense pressure, one can only hope things are played in the spirit of the game.
