Kartik takes five in Lancashire debut

Murali Kartik, the Indian left-arm spinner, has made an impressive debut for Lancashire, taking 5 for 93 against Essex. After being reduced to 145 for 7, an 86-run partnership between James Middlebrook and Andre Adams helped Essex reach 267 at Chelmsford.

Kartik struck in his very first over by bowling Andy Flower who tried to execute his trademark reverse-sweep. Kartik then ripped through the middle order by removing Ronnie Irani and James Foster in quick succession. A couple of sixes, courtesy Danish Kaneria, and a spate of no balls, spoiled to a certain extent Kartik's fantastic debut for Lancashire.

Meanwhile, Dinesh Mongia, the former Indian middle-order batsman, hit a useful 71 that included ten fours and a six, as Leicestershire declared after amassing a gigantic 552 for 6 against Derbyshire at Leicester.