Karnataka, Kerala post impressive wins

The round of Under-14 matches in the South Zone, which concluded on Friday, witnessed Karnataka and Kerala score emphatic wins over Andhra and Goa respectively. While Karanataka defeated Andhra by an innings and 111 runs, Kerala trounced Goa by 140 runs.

Karnataka, who took on the visitors at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, scored 321 in their first innings. The score was helped along with handsome contributions by the top and lower order. Amit Verma (54) who came in at No 7 top scored. In reply, Andhra were demolished by G Dhiman (6 for 36). In the score of 78, M Praneeth (26) top scored for Andhra.

Andhra followed on and fared a little better, scoring 141. Dhiman came back to torment the visitors, taking 4 for 60. Praneeth once again was the lone fighter with 78. Moinuddin (2 for 36) and Kashyap (2 for 10) ran through the rest of the side.

At the Municipal stadium in Tellicherry, Kerala seamers MP Manu (5 for 44) and FM Robert (4 for 38) skittled out Goa for 118 on the opening day. G Dhuri with a fighting 49 was the top scorer. In turn, Kerala declared their innings at 421 for 7. FM Robert was the man of the hour for the hosts with a well compiled 110 off 191 balls. Goa in their second innings were bundled out for 163. The wrecker-in-chief was Manu with 7 for 48. He had 13 for 92 for the match.

In the third match at the Gymkhana ground in Hyderabad, the hosts settled for a draw with Tamil Nadu. Hyderabad who elected to bat scored 260, with skipper Aaron Paul (94) leading from the front. In response, Tamil Nadu scored 248 for nine, batting well into the final day. The innings was held together by P Hariraj who scored 64 after a middle order collapse. Both the teams had three points each.