Naik, Jaffer, Kukreja put Mumbai on top by CricketArchive Staff Reporter

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Ground:	Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
Scorecard:	Mumbai v Karnataka
Player:	PT Naik, W Jaffer, SO Kukreja
Event:	Ranji Trophy 2007/08

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DateLine: 4th November 2007

 

Mumbai, Nov 4: A mature half century from debutant Prashant Naik saw that Mumbai did not waste the fine start given by openers Sahil Kukreja and Wasim Jaffer as they took a vital 107-run first inning lead against Karnataka on the second day on their four-day Elite Division Group 'A' Ranji match against Karnataka at the Wankhede stadium here today.

 

At close of play on the second day, Mumbai had reached 302 for seven in reply to Karnataka's first innings score of 195 with Ajit Agarkar on 20 and Vinayak Samant on 13 at the crease.

 

Resuming this morning, Karnataka lost their last wicket of B Akhil in the third over of the day, adding just six runs from their overnight score of 189 for nine to be bowled out for 195.

 

Wasim Jaffer and Sahil Kukreja, opening the innings for the defending champions, gave Mumbai a solid start both putting on 118 for the first wicket.Karnataka, however, struck back after lunch as the proceedings took a dramatic turnaround as N C Aiyappa opened the floodgates with two quick wickets.

 

He got the first breakthrough getting Wasim Jaffer clean bowled as the batsman, late in leaning forward, played on to an in-cutter for 55 to leave Mumbai on 118 for one. Soon it was 121 for two with Sunil Joshi getting youngster Ajinkya Rahane out leg before as the batsman padded up without offering a shot. The umpire ruled that the ball would have gone to hit the stumps. Rahane did not open his account.

 

In the next over, Aiyappa got the other important breakthrough of Sahil Kukreja as he lunged at a full delivery that shaped away for wicketkeeper T Naidu to complete the catch. Kukreja made 66 and Mumbai had lost three wickets in nine balls to be in some trouble at 125 for three.

 

Prashant Naik then joined his captain Amol Muzumdar and showed a mature head on young shoulders, playing the bowling on merit and eschewing all risks as he and his captain put on 48 runs for the fourth wicket before Muzumdar was trapped in front with a faster delivery from Anil Kumble for 23 with Mumbai on 173 for four.

 

Abhishek Nayar then joined Naik who grew in confidence as he drove Kumble and Vinay Kumar through covers before square driving B Akhil. Abhishek Nayar, counterattacked making a breezy 18 ball 24 before being trapped leg before trying to reverse sweep Sunil Joshi. He hit four boundaries including three in an over from Kumble.

 

Naik too caught the attacking virus and stepped down the track to loft C Raghu to the long-on boundary for the first six of the game. Ramesh Powar also did not last long, holing out to C Raghu at mid-wicket after hitting a six and four off the bowling of Sunil Joshi to leave Mumbai at 231 for six.

 

Naik then received good support from Ajit Agarkar as he reached his 50 in his debut match off 99 balls with six boundaries and a six. However, after the two had put on 43 runs, Agarkar called Naik for a non existent run on the off side for the latter to be run out at the striker's end by a direct throw by Vinay Kumar from the covers.Naik made 78 after facing 152 balls and hit nine boundaries and a six.