Mohali: Weakness of attitude, said Albert Einstein, becomes weakness of character. It quite described Punjab’s Ranji Trophy team on the fourth day of the semifinals against Karnataka. For all intents and purposes, Karnataka have ensured their place in the final, gloomy weather, a lack of resistance and will from Punjab all but shutting out Harbhajan’s Singh’s side.
A mere 36.1 overs were bowled on Tuesday, blighting any lingering hopes Punjab may have nursed going into the penultimate day but given their attitude, it appeared they had given up the fight even before play commenced on Tuesday morning.
Play was first halted at 11.15 am due to bad light and resumed post an extended lunch session, only for the players to head back to the dressing rooms 40 minutes later.
They were back again later in the day, but only seven deliveries were bowled when the umpires deemed the light was not good enough and called off play for the day at 4.35 pm. Karnataka, of course were not complaining. Sitting pretty with a lead of 81 at the start of the day, they extended it to a formidable 177, that too without losing a wicket as R. Vinay Kumar’s team ended the day at 447 for five.
Resuming at the overnight 351 for five, Karnataka batsmen Karun Nair (151 batting) and Amit Verma (114 batting) reached their individual landmarks without much fuss. Verma, 65 overnight, batted craftily to complete his eighth first class century, dispatching a Jaskaran Singh delivery through point boundary to cross the milestone.
Although the run-rate dipped considerably, the duo stuck to its job of keeping their wickets intact. Verma’s ton came off 228 deliveries and included 16 hits to the fence. Not to be left behind, Karun, in the middle of a purple patch with his third straight hundred, brought up his 150 with a single of Tarunwar Kohli.
The first innings lead was always going to be crucial in inclement weather as this, but having conceded the lead, Punjab’s only glimmer of hope lay in securing an early breakthrough and quickly polishing off the visitors. But it was not to be. The home side did bowl well at the start, but an hour into the match and with no success, the signs of what lay ahead was all too evident, especially among the seniors in the team.
With rain forecast on the final day, Punjab can only hope for a miracle. Karnataka probably have their sights set on Maharashtra, who have already made the final.
SCORECARD
Punjab (1st innings): 270
Karnataka (1st innings): R. Uthappa lbw b Harbhajan 47, K.L. Rahul c Khera b Gony 4, M. Agarwal c Khera b Jaskaran 0, M. Pandey c Khera b Sandeep 65, K. Nair (batting) 151, C.M. Gautam c Jiwanjot b Harbhajan 48, Amit Verma (batting) 114. Extras (lb7, nb9, w2) 18. Total (for 5 wkts in 146.1 overs) 447
FoW: 1-6, 2-23, 3-94, 4-158, 5-241
Bowling: Sandeep 23-5-58-1, Gony 31-4-103-1, Jaskaran 25-5-89-1, Harbhajan 33-3-98-2, Yuvraj 4-0-14-0, Taruwar Kohli 12.1-1-42-0, Gurkeerat 18-3-36-0.
