Despite Mumbai debutant Shivam Dube's five-wicket haul, Karnataka boss Day Two of Ranji Trophy quarter-final
Karnataka grabbed full honours on Day One of the Ranji Trophy quarter-final against Mumbai and Day Two yesterday was no different. The Vinay Kumar-led side posted 395 for the loss of six wickets at the Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) Stadium here in Jamtha yesterday, thus taking a commanding 222-run lead.
Shivam Dubey
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The only notable achievement for the 41-time Ranji Trophy champions was debutant Shivam Dube's five-wicket haul. He became the ninth Mumbai bowler to pick a fifer on debut. Had the right-arm medium pacer got support from his pacemen and Suryakumar Yadav held on to a CM Gautam (79) catch at first slip, the scenario for Mumbai could have been a lot different. Yadav dropped a dolly when Gautam was just nine. "I just wanted to play freely, positively and started attacking a little bit," Gautam said about getting a life and capitalising on it. "It's a five-day game. We can't take it lightly. We are looking to play another session tomorrow and you never know what happens," he added.
Dube, who played for Karnatak Sporting Association in Mumbai's club cricket tournaments, ensured his first-class debut was memorable, although he admitted the pressure of playing in the knockouts did get the better of him. "I don't think there is much difference playing club cricket in Mumbai and in Ranji Trophy, but yes, there is pressure as this is a big game. Playing for Mumbai is very important and I am proud that I gave my best. Though I was under pressure, my captain gave me confidence to bowl freely," Dube said after the day's play yesterday.
If Mumbai had to get back into the game, it was very important for their bowlers to utilise the conditions in the first hour of the morning. Unlike Karnataka, who picked Mumbai's top three wickets in the innings' first three overs, Mumbai took around 40 minutes yesterday morning to get their first breakthrough when another debutant pacer Shivam Malhotra got his first wicket in the form of Mayank Agarwal (78), this Ranji season's highest run-scorer. But even after Agarwal's dismissal, Karnataka negotiated the Mumbai bowling attack very well, scoring 190 for four at lunch. Kaunain Abbas (50), Gautam, Shreyas Gopal (80 not out) and skipper R Vinay Kumar (31 not out) made the situation even worse for Mumbai. All these batsmen negotiated more than 100 deliveries to frustrate Mumbai's attack.
Kumar enjoyed a slice of luck when at 25, he edged the ball between first slip fielder Akhil Herwadkar and wicketkeeper Aditya Tare. Herwadkar should have attempted the catch which was similar to Karun Nair's one-handed catch that saw the departure of Jay Bista in the first innings.
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