Girilal, Sorab thrash Karnataka bowling

Kerala openers Varun Girilal and MP Sorab made merry at the expense of the Karnataka bowling on the second day of their Coca Cola Trophy South Zone (under-25) tournament group A match at the Maharaja Jayamarajendra Wodeyar Sports Complex in Bangalore on Wednesday. The in form batsmen shared a partnership of 366 runs off 101.2 overs as Kerala scored 410 for three in reply to Karnataka's first innings total of 264 at close.

Resuming at 68 for no loss, Kerala had things pretty much their own way during the day, thanks to the form exhibited by Girilal and Sorab. In the last match against Andhra, Girilal scored 77 while Sorab had carried his bat for 255. On Wednesday, they put the Karnataka bowling to the sword and the first innings lead was obtained without loss after 72.2 overs. Both the batsmen were equally aggressive and even though the Karnataka captain tried out eight bowlers, they just went about decimating the attack. At lunch the score was 199 and at tea it had progressed to 296.

Ultimately it took the second new ball taken at 360 after 100 overs to break the partnership. Sorab was the first to be dismissed, caught by Shanbal off medium pacer Sunil Kumar for 183. He batted 430 minutes, faced 337 balls and hit 26 fours and a six. In his next over, Sunil Kumar had Girilal caught by Shanbal for 154. Girilal batted 441 minutes, faced 288 balls and hit 22 fours and a six. Sunil Kumar took a third wicket in his following over dismissing C Sanju for a duck. But CM Shyam with a breezy unbeaten 26 off 20 balls with six hits to the ropes brought up the 400 shortly before close. Sunil Kumar was the only bowler to be somewhat effective and finished with three for 93.