Karnataka stage a recovery

KOLKATA: Karnataka made up for their first innings debacle by scoring 97 for no loss in their second outing after bowling out Bengal for 238 on the second day of the Ranji Trophy Elite Group semi-final on Wednesday.

Karnataka, who were bowled out for 89 in their first essay, showed grit and determination with both their openers remaining unbeaten at stumps at the Eden Gardens. Bharat Chipli was batting on 64 off 85 balls. His score, with the half century coming in just 59 balls, was studded with 12 hits to the boundary.

A poised Rowland Barrington held fort at the other end, scoring 26 runs in 96 balls with two boundaries to his credit. Earlier, resuming at the overnight score of 121 for four, Bengal first innings folded up at 238.

Opener Arindam Das made a valiant 88 runs, while his overnight partner Laxmi Ratan Shukla made 41 runs. After they were out, the Bengal innings folded quickly with the last four wickets falling for just 10 runs.

For Karnataka, S Dhananjaya and B Akhil claimed three wickets each giving away 45 and 52 runs respectively. Vinay Kumar and Sunil Joshi got two wickets each. With Karnataka just 52 runs behind overall, it is still an open game with three days to go.

Brief Scores

Bengal v Karnataka at Kolkata

Karnataka (first innings): 89
Bengal (first innings): 238

Karnataka (second innings): 97/0 (BM Rowland 26*, B Chipli 64*)

At stumps, Karnataka trail by 52 runs with 10 wickets remaining