Rain restricts play on opening day

Only 28 overs play was possible on the first day of the five day Irani Trophy tie between Rest of India and Ranji Trophy champions Karnataka at the Chinnaswamy stadium in Bangalore on Friday. In that time, Karnataka, put in to bat, were 65 for two.

Rain delayed the start of play till 2 pm. Karnataka openers Sujith Somasundar and J.Arun Kumar put on 29 runs in 9.5 overs before the former who dominated the scoring was caught by Nilesh Kulkarni off Harvinder Singh Sodhi for 21. Somasundar faced 33 balls and hit four boundaries. A.Vijay joined Arun Kumar and the two added 23 runs off 12 overs before Sodhi claimed his second wicket, having Vijay leg before for just 8. Vijay faced 44 balls and hit one boundary. VST Naidu came in and kept the steady Arun Kumar company till stumps were prematurely drawn with bad light halting play. Arun Kumar at close was batting on 23. He had faced 79 balls and had four hits to the ropes. Naidu was batting with four after having faced 18 balls.

Medium pacer Harvinder Sodhi was easily the pick of the Rest of India bowlers. He sent down 12 overs to capture both the wickets that fell for 27 runs.