Yohannan rips through Karnataka

Kerala's medium pace bowler Tinu Yohannan was in devastating form on the opening day of the three day Coca Cola Trophy (under-25) tournament game against Karnataka at the Maharaja Jayamajaendra Wodeyar Sports Complex in Bangalore on Tuesday. Yohannan, who has been selected as one of the trainees for the National Cricket Academy, took seven for 65 off 20.3 overs as Karnataka were all out for 264. In reply, Kerala were 68 for no loss at close of play.

Winning the toss, Karnataka were in trouble early when they they lost two wickets for 32. Their hopes revived with a third wicket partnership of 138 runs off 32 overs between Prajwal Raj (63) and SP Shinde (76). While the former faced 88 balls and hit seven fours and three sixes, Shinde faced 106 balls and hit nine of them to the ropes. Yohannan dismissed both batsmen in successive overs but Karnataka's hopes of a good total were maintained with N Mulky (37) and MS Vinay (29) adding 50 runs for the fifth wicket off six overs. Vinay, who had opened the batting retired hurt in the seventh over after scoring only one run when the score was 20 for one. He re-entered at the fall of the third wicket at 170.

Once Vinay was out however at 223, there was a sharp slump and the last six wickets fell for 41 runs off 22.3 overs. Yohannan took four of these and was well supported by Rajesh who took the other two. Mulky's was a valuable contribution under the circumstnaces. He faced 66 balls and hit five boundaries.

In the remaining 17 overs, Kerala's in form openers V Girilal (23) and MP Sorab (33) survived till stumps even though Karnataka captain SK Susanth made some quick bowling changes in the closing stages. Girilal has hit five fours and Sorab, who carried his bat for 255 in the previous game, has hit seven.