Double-barrelled Young Guns

Pandey gets 200,Verma misses out

When Karnataka declared their first innings at 635 for nine on Friday,the general feeling around the Brabourne Stadium was not about how big the score was,it was more about how eminently chasable it would be,given the way runs were piled up at the venue in the last two games.

With 1897 runs scored in six days play including two double hundreds,as many tons and eight half centuries the Brabourne pitch has not played as the Mumbai squad would have expected. Having got their home games shifted here from the batting paradise of the MCA-BKC ground,the hosts,seeking some assist for their bowlers,have been left unsure of their gameplan after the run-fests here. And with the way things have panned out in the Karnataka innings,more runs are predicted over the next two days.

Job well done

The second days play saw the Karnataka batsmen firmly in control of the match,continuing from where they left off on Thursday. Manish Pandey,who retired hurt on 101 on Day One,slammed his second first-class double hundred while Amit Verma,44 overnight,chipped in with 173.

In reply,Mumbai didnt get off to a perfect start. With their most experienced player Wasim Jaffer back in the hut for a duck after being caught in front of stumps,failing to get in his bat in time for Vinay Kumars in-coming delivery,Ajinkya Rahane and Abhishek Nayar were left holding fort at the end of the days play,batting on 23 and 14 respectively for a team score of 37/1.

In-form Rahane

Mumbai will be hoping for an extended partnership from the duo,with Rahane looking in good touch,scoring three boundaries off back foot,followed by a couple of drives.

Earlier,Karnataka resumed their innings on 316/5,with Verma and Vinay Kumar scoring at will and making the Mumbai bowlers work hard. Ramesh Powar,wicketless against Rajasthan,finally sent back Vinay Kumar,but by then,the latter had struck 57 runs and added 119 for sixth wicket.

But Verma continued his plunder,slamming two consecutive sixes off Powar to reach three figures. Pandey,returning to bat,continued his chanceless innings. Abhimanyu Mithun went after the Mumbai spinners,scoring 45 off 37 balls,including four sixes and three fours.

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It is very important to start fresh when you come out to bat after retiring hurt. Today,I decided to do just that starting from scratch because you can then build your innings accordingly, said Pandey,before adding,The pitch is certainly helping the batsmen but it also has a nice carry and bounce too, Pandey said.

Brief scores: Karnataka 635/9 decl M Pandey 200,A Verma 173; A Chavan 3/115; Mumbai 37/1 A Rahane batting 23; Vinay Kumar 1/16