Karthik scores yet another double ton Cooch Behar Trophy

A double-century from the prolific Dinesh Karthik ensured that the three-day Cooch Behar league match between the Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh under-19 teams ended in a draw at the SPIC-YMCA grounds in Chennai on Monday.

Karthik made 235, his second double-hundred of the tournament, while No 6 Vasudeva Das made an unbeaten 103 as Tamil Nadu replied with 448-5 after Andhra, aided by a 133-run ninth wicket partnership between K Mohiuddin (103) and D Kalyana Krishna (55), had posted 403 in their first innings. Tamil Nadu gained five points for securing the first-innings lead while Andhra had to be content with three points.

Karthik, who also happens to be the Tamil Nadu wicket-keeper, has now made 558 runs in the competition, with just one failure; he was out for a duck in Tamil Nadu's first innings against Hyderabad. In his three remaining knocks, he has made accumulated 588 runs, with two double tons and an unbeaten century, notching an impressive batting average of 196. Tamil Nadu now have 16 points from three league matches. Andhra, meanwhile, have 19 points, after two wins and the draw against Tamil Nadu, which sees them share the top spot currently with Karnataka.

Another league match played at the IIT Chemplast Ground saw Kerala come from behind to eke out a four-wicket win over Hyderabad. Irresponsible batting from Hyderabad led to them being restricted to 182 in the first innings after they had opted to bat. Kerala were equally pathetic when they replied, being dismissed for just 164.

With skipper Tirumal Setti Suman (102) leading from the front, Hyderabad at 152-2 in their second innings seemed on course to set Kerala a formidable victory target at the end of the second day. But their efforts to go for quick runs saw them collapse to 237 all out on the third morning. Left-arm spinner NK Aneeshkumar, who claimed seven Hyderabadi wickets for just 84 runs, was the wrecker-in-chief.

When Kerala replied, Abhishek Hegde (41), skipper Mauzzam Nathani (63), MA Abijit (34), PR Prem (39) and Arun Alex (51) all made handsome contributions to ensure that their team notched up their first win in the tournament. Kerala now have secured eight points while Hyderabad have ten points.

In the only other league match, Karnataka thrashed Goa by an innings and 45 runs at the Southern Railway grounds. Karnataka, batting first, piled on 397-6 declared aided by a 206 runs between openers G Nidhuvan (161) and Nidish (87).

Goa made a tame reply - they were dismissed for 194 runs - and a 203-run first innings deficit meant that they had to follow on. Their second innings was to prove even briefer; they only made 158 runs as Karnataka bowlers Udit Patel (4-51) and Dharmichand (4-39) hastened their doom. Their massive defeat leaves Goa, who are still to open their account, at the bottom of the table. Karnataka, meanwhile, have notched up 19 points and are now on top of the leader-board with Andhra.