Karnataka subdues a determined J & K
The Hindu
Skipper Ian Dev, with support from fellow batters, puts up a fight with a fine century
There were times when the game appeared surreal. Karnataka seemed in control yet the Jammu & Kashmir batters put together a barrage of shots. Truth to tell, Karnataka had sufficient runs — defending 508 — to withstand the pounding.
Just consider this. In the session before lunch, 200 runs were whipped up in 39.5 overs for the loss of the remaining six J & K wickets.
Karnataka, a victor by 117 runs on day four of this Ranji duel at the IIT-Chemplast ground on Sunday, took home six points.
The spirited J & K was bowled out for 390, its skipper Ian Dev Singh notching up a pleasing 110 (188b, 15x4, 2x6) of firm strokes and a compact defence; he pierced the off-side field with lovely timing.
For Karnataka, the big guns fired. Prasidh Krishna, bowling with pace and precision, finished with a match haul of 10 wickets, with four in the second innings. And Karun Nair was adjudged man-of-the-match for his batting heroics.
Despite the sun beating down, the pitch did not deteriorate. J&K employed the heavy roller that appeared to settle the surface down. Strangely it stayed that way.
The J & K batsmen were not complaining. The heavy-hitting Abdul Samad (70, 78b, 6x4, 5x6) — he has an uncomplicated technique — dismissed leg-spinner Shreyas Gopal for sixes over long on and long off.