Skipper Robin Uthappa played a sparkling knock of 139 to save Karnataka from being bowled out by Saurashtra on the opening day of their Ranji Trophy quarter-final at the Brabourne Stadium, in Mumbai [Images] on Friday.
Uthappa uncorked splendid on-drives and clips off his toes in his five-hour innings, laced with 15 fours and a six, but the rest of his teammates, including Rahul Dravid [Images], put up a pedestrian display as Karnataka, who were asked to bat first, ended the day at 265 for eight.
Saurashtra all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, with his left-arm orthodox spin, was the wrecker-in-chief with a splendid haul of 5 for 71 off 30 overs bowled on the trot after swing bowler Jayesh Odedara had done the early damage by taking the first two wickets.
Jadeja made the ball spin sharply and bounce awkwardly at times, besides using the arm ball to splendid effect, to snare three wickets in seven balls, including two off successive balls, and then followed it with two off five deliveries.
His victims included the prize scalp of Dravid, who was caught behind for 26 after nearly two hours' of scratchy stay at the wicket, and Uthappa -- who was trapped leg before on the 200th ball he faced.
At stumps, Karnataka's tail-enders Vinay Kumar (22 in 86 minutes) and debutant S Aravind (0) were at the crease.
Play commenced half an hour late in the morning due to damp spots on the wicket and Saurashtra captain Jaydev Shah had no hesitation in putting the opposition in after winning the toss.
Scores: Karnataka 265 for 8 (Robin Uthappa 139, Rahul Dravid 26; Ravindra Jadeja 5 for 71) vs Saurashtra.
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