Robin Uthappa's fireworks boost Karnataka
Round-up of the first day of sixth round matches of the 2006-07 Ranji Trophy
Cricinfo staff
02-Jan-2007
Robin Uthappa's whirlwind 159, off just 171 balls with 21 spanking fours and five clattered sixes, lit up the Chinnaswamy Stadium on the opening day against Tamil Nadu. Having chosen to bat first, Karnataka rode on Uthappa's century, which involved vital partnerships with Chandrashekar Raghu and capain Yere Goud. It was Uthappa's fourth hundred this season, and second 150-plus score, and his good work was continued by Goud, with a composed 161-ball 58, later in the day. During the course of his innings Goud completed 5000 runs in the Ranji Trophy.
A rearguard half-century by Amit Mishra guided Haryana to 238 for 7 on the first day against Saurashtra at Rajkot. Haryana were floundering at 133 for 7 before Mishra and Sandeep Singh added an unbeaten 105 for the eighth wicket. Mishra finished the day on 61 while Sandeep scored 44. Rakesh Dhruv was the best bowler with 4 for 71.
Half-centuries from Nilesh Modi and Niraf Patel took Gujarat to a sound position at 200 for 2 on the first day against Maharashtra at Nasik. Patel finished the day on an unbeaten 92. He added 129 runs for the second wicket with Modi who scored 57. Modi had also added 61 for the opening wicket with Azharuddin Bilakhia who scored 36.
A four-wicket burst from medium-pacer Swapnil Hazare confirmed Mumbai's dominance on the opening day against Rajasthan at the Wankhede Stadium. Rajasthan's decision to bat first backfired, with Vikaram Solanki ploughing through the wreckage with a stroke-filled 77. None of the other batsmen passed 12 as Hazare, Abhishek Nair (3 for 18) and Ajit Agarkar (2 for 60) inflicted the damage. Mumbai were a comfortable 93 for 2 at stumps, only 64 runs adrift of gaining first-innings honours.
Mayank Tehlan's cautious 91, spanning 196 balls, propped up Delhi to 247 for 5 at the end of their opening day against Andhra at Vijaywada. Delhi were in early trouble after choosing to bat, slipping to 34 for 2, but a 67-run stand between Tehlan and Mithun Manhas revived them. Virat Kohli chipped in with 33 and Tehlan soldiered on all the way to stumps.
Ravi Teja kickstarted the game with a fiery half-century before Arjun Yadav consolidated Hyderabad's innings on the first day against Bengal at Uppal. Bengal's decision to field had disastrous results initially - Teja cracked nine fours in his 64-ball 57 and added 91 with his opening partner Tirumal Suman - but Ashok Dinda, the medium-pacer, struck four vital blows to help them fight back. Yadav resisted for 161 deliveries and carried the score to 258 for 6 at the end of the day.