Laxman gives Karnataka a hiding

VVS Laxman, with an unbeaten 346, created Ranji history by becoming the first batsman to score two triple hundreds in the 65 year old competition as Hyderabad rubbed Karnataka's nose in the dirt for the second day running in their Ranji Trophy semifinal at the M Chinnaswamy stadium on Wednesday.

Undeterred by the loss of Mohd. Azharuddin for 123 in the seventh over of the day, after a 288 run fourth wicket association, Laxman marched serenely onward, abetted by two able partners in Vanka Pratap and Parth Satwalkar. Cuts, drives, pulls and flicks all flowed in profusion from Laxman's blade as he played every shot in the book except the hook to lift Hyderabad to an invincible position of 663/6 at close of play.

Azhar and Laxman began in frenetic fashion in the morning, taking seven boundaries off Prasad and Ganesh in the first six overs. Azhar escaped a run out appeal when Mithun Beerala threw down the stumps from point with a direct hit. He also tried to pull a shortish one from Prasad but the ball lobbed off the edge, landing just short of mid on. The danger signals were there and in the same over as the two afore mentioned incidents, Prasad had his revenge. Driving away from his body, Azhar presented a catch to Vijay Bharadwaj at second slip who grabbed it with alacrity.

Laxman survived another chance at 194 when Bharadwaj stretched to his right at first slip and got both hands to the ball but it just wouldn't stick. Laxman duly got to his double ton with a gentle push through the on side to leave everyone wondering what the final harvest would be. Vanka Pratap played some elegant on drives, both the lofted version and all along the ground as he added 124 for the fourth wicket with VVS before Joshi bowled him round his legs when he missed an intended sweep.

Satwalkar continued the good work, holding up one end, and permitting Laxman to forage for runs without a care in the world. Laxman simply looked unstoppable and although the Karnataka attack toiled manfully they were clueless on where to bowl to him. Indeed they seemed to throw in the towel at one point as the irregular bowlers, B Akhil and A Vijay conducted the proceedings when Laxman reached the vicinity of his triple hundred. He got to the landmark with a push into the covers that was worth only a single but for the kindness of Venkatesh Prasad who managed to give away an overthrow from close range.

Satwalkar departed in the first over after tea, caught behind by Naidu off Akhil for 37. In one final flourish, Laxman hit Joshi over long off for the first six of the day and the second of his innings, and also lofted Ganesh for back to back boundaries over cover and midoff. After Riaz Sheikh was sixth out at 636, the shutters were pulled down as Laxman and Fiaz Ahmed played for the morrow. Thilak Naidu had been immune to the fielding lapses all this while and gave away his first bye with the score at 646 although five more followed soon after when the ball went through to hit the helmet behind him. A clutch of records beckon tomorrow when Laxman resumes his innings and Hyderabad will probably have no compunctions in snuffing out the last embers of Karnataka's resolve by extending their innings for plenty more.