Karnataka fightback to reduce Saurashtra to 183/8 in II innings

Mysore, Dec 11 (UNI) Hosts Karantaka fought back hard after conceding a slender 19 run first innings lead by reducing Saurashtra to 183 for eight wickets in their second knock on the penultimate day of the Ranji trophy elite group 'A' match here today.

Hosts resuming at their first knock with the overnight score of 216 for 9 could add only 10 runs in reply to Saurashtra's 245 in the first innings. Overnight centurion K B Pawan was last man out making 120. Sandeep Jobanputra returned with a rich haul of six for 70.

Karnataka bowlers struck back with N C Aiyappa taking three wickets, Vinay Kumar and Sunil Joshi two each. The hosts have a chance to force win tomorrow with Sourashtra leading by just 202 runs with just two wickets on hard.

At one stage they had lost six wickets for 116 runs. Firoz Babbhaniya who remained not out with 28 Sandeep on 16.

were at the crease at stumps.

Karnataka keeper Thilak Naidu wrote a new record for the state after taking ten catches in the match. He had erased the past record of nine wickets stood in the name of Avinash Vaidya in 1992-93 against Assam.

Six times champions Karntaka must win this match to stay in hunt for a place in the knock out stage.

Saurasthra I innings 245. Karnataka I innings 226 (K B Pawan 120, Thilak Naidu 30, Yare Goud 33, Sandeep 6/70, Rakesh Dhruve 2/40 ). Saurasthra II innings 183/8 (Kanaiya Vaghlea 34, Sitamshu Kotak 26, Cheteshwar Pujara 22, Firoz Bambhaniya 28 n.o, N C Aiyappa 3/70, R Vinya Kumar 2/46, Sunil Joshi 2/36).

UNI