Naidu, Joshi take Karnataka to massive first innings score

Shored up by big knocks from stumper Tilak Naidu and India all rounder Sunil Joshi Karnataka piled up a massive 545 for 9 declared at the end of the second day in their clash against Hyderabad. Resuming on 279/4, the Karnataka team strode strongly ahead. The fact that they were playing at home must have helped a great deal.

Vijay Bharadwaj could add just 12 to his overnight score and was dismissed for exactly fifty. Naidu and Joshi then turned the heat on, piling up a mammoth 170 runs for the 6th wicket. The pair was finally separated when Naidu (122 runs, 209 balls, 17 fours) succumbed to the guile of left arm spinner Venkatapathy Raju. India mediumpacer Javagal Srinath then provided good company to Joshi and the two put on 54 before Joshi fell, just 8 runs short of his century. His innings included 10 hits that reached the fence and 2 two hits that crossed the ropes. The fall of two quick wickets prompted Karnataka to declare their innings on 545/9.

Whatever hopes the Karnataka side harboured of making early inroads into the Hyderabad batting were dashed by openers Daniel Manohar (30 not out) and Nandakishore (16 all out). The two saw Hyderabad safely to 48/0 at stumps.