Karnataka’s Ranji Trophy campaign was back on track after it crushed Kerala by an innings and 164 runs at the KCA Stadium, Mangalapuram, near here on Tuesday.
Right-arm off-spinner Mohsin Khan’s maiden five-wicket haul (six for 29) inflicted a demoralising defeat on the host after pacer Vidwath Kaverappa struck telling blows with the new ball in the morning.
Mohsin’s nagging accuracy and subtle variations of length proved to be more than a handful for the Kerala batters on a wicket of variable bounce. Last-man Eden Apple Tom (39 not out off 68 balls), who batted with an injured finger, and debutant M.U. Harikrishnan (six off 94 balls) delayed Karnataka’s victory as the 10th-wicket stand consumed nearly 23 overs and added 44 runs.
Kaverappa’s double strike in his first over set the template for the win. The makeshift opener M.D. Nidheesh (nine) edged to Karun Nair in the slips and Akshay Chandran departed for a golden duck, bowled off an inswinger, as Kerala slipped to 19 for two.
Captain Mohammed Azharuddeen started positively, pulling Kaverappa over the square leg for a six and followed it up with a fluent cover drive for a boundary. But Azharuddeen (15) failed to ride the bounce from a Shikhar Shetty delivery and was snapped up by wicketkeeper Krishnan Shrijith.
Opener Krishna Prasad and Ahammed Imran figured in a 57-run stand for the fourth wicket, a brief period which raised hopes of a Kerala fightback. However, Mohsin dismissed both Krishna Prasad (33) and Imran (23) in quick succession to leave Kerala tottering at 106 for five.
B. Aparajith and Sachin Baby played the spinners with caution but Mohsin ended the partnership before it prospered. Mohsin foxed Baby (12) with a quicker delivery as the batter was bowled, trying to play a square cut off the back foot. Another quicker delivery breached Shoun Roger’s defences to leave Kerala on the brink. However, the plucky show by the tailenders delayed the inevitable in the extended post-lunch session.
The scores: Karnataka — 1st innings: 586 for five decl.
Kerala — 1st innings: 238.
Kerala — 2nd innings: Krishna Prasad b Mohsin 33, M.D. Nidheesh c Karun b Kaverappa 9, Akshay Chandran b Kaverappa 0, Mohammed Azharuddeen c Shrijith b Shikhar 15, Ahammed Imran c & b Mohsin 23, B. Aparajith lbw b Mohsin 19, Sachin Baby b Mohsin 12, Shoun Roger b Mohsin 0, Hari Krishnan lbw b Mohsin 6, Vaisakh Chandran c Karun b Shreyas 4, Eden Apple Tom (not out) 39; Extras: (b-12, lb-12): 24; Total (in 79.3 overs): 184.
Fall of wickets: 1-19, 2-19, 3-40, 4-97, 5-106, 6-130, 7-130, 8-135, 9-140.
Karnataka bowling: Kaverappa 13-4-28-2 Vyshak 10-3-27-0, Shikhar 13-2-32-1 Shreyas 20-7-44-1, Mohsin 23.3-14-29-6.