Ranji champions add Kiwi feather to their cap

Ganesh, who dismissed Mathew Horne (12), Craig Spearman (1) and Chris Cairns (8) in quick succession, was supported by Sunil Joshi during the truncated morning session. Joshi accounted for Chris Harris (0) to have the Kiwis reeling at 60 for four at the break.

Thereafter, Joshi, Kumble and Vijay Bharadwaj took over and polished off the Kiwi innings for a meagre 105. Only Nathan Astle (33) and opener Mathew Bell (26) managed to get worthwhile scores as the home team bowlers, spectacularly supported by the close-in fielders A Vijay and J Arun Kumar, did the damage.

A Vijay, who picked up four catches was outstanding at forward short leg. Former India junior wicket-keeper Thilak Naidu who was fielded in the eleven only due to the finger injury to Somashekar Shiraguppi, too come up with a brilliant show both in front of the sticks and behind it.

Karnataka, left to make 86 for a win in 35 overs, seemed in an undue haste. They went after the bowling and lost three wickets. But Vijay Bharadwaj, the pillar of the home team batting, once again came good with a marvellous unbeaten 33 (32b, 2×6, 3×4).

For the Kiwis this defeat was a terrible blow, especially as it came just three days before the start of the second Test.

The home team was simply ecstatic. The last time they bettered a visiting team was in 1978 when they accounted for the West Indies.

SCOREBOARD

New Zealand (1st innings) 249-6 decl

Karnataka (1st innings): 269-9 decl

New Zealand (2nd innings;overnight 12-0): Mathew Horne c Naidu b Ganesh 12, Mathew Bell c Arunkumar b Joshi 26, Chris Harris c Vijay b Joshi 0, Craig Spearman b Ganesh 1, Chris Cairns c Vijay b Ganesh 8; Nathan Astle c Vijay b Kumble 33, Adam Parore lbw Joshi 0, Andrew Penn b Kumble 1, Stephen Fleming c Vijay b Bharadwaj 4, Paul Wiseman c Arunkumar b Joshi 6, Chris Drum (not out) 1; Extras: 13; Total: (all out in 57.5 overs) 105

Fall of wickets: 1-30, 2-35, 3-36, 4-48, 5-78, 6-78, 7-85, 8-96, 9-98

Bowling: Ganesh 14-3-41-3, Mansoor Ali Khan 4-2-11-0, Bharadwaj 4-1-14-1, Kumble 10-5-9-2, Joshi 15.5-7-17-4

Karnataka (2nd innings): Sujit Somasundar c Harris b Wiseman 19, Arunkumar c Spearman b Cairns 4, Rahul Dravid c Parore b Drum 18, Vijay Bharadwaj not out 33, Thilak Naidu not out 7; Extras: 5 Total (for 3 wkts in 20.4 overs) 86

Fall of wickets: 1-5, 2-43, 3-56

Bowling: Cairns 3-1-8-1; Penn 4-0-24-0; Drum 6-3-5-1; Wiseman 6-1-33-1; Harris 1.4-0-16-0

Result: Karantaka won by seven wickets.