Vinay, Mithun skittle out Maharashtra

Pune:

Seasoned Vinay Kumar and rookie Abhimanyu Mithun combined forces for Karnataka in splendid fashion to bundle out hosts Maharashtra for a paltry 105 on the opening day of their four-day Ranji Trophy Super League Group B tie on Tuesday.

Vinay chopped off the top order to finish with superb figures of 5 for 40 while Mithun grabbed 3 for 32 as the pace duo ripped apart the Maharashtra first innings after the home team were inserted by Karnataka skipper Robin Uthappa on a slightly damp wicket.

The extent of the ball dominating the bat is evident from the fact that the 31-run partnership for the sixth wicket between R Motwani (13) and G Gaekwad (21) was the highest of the Karnataka innings that lasted just under 40 overs.

Only K Adhav, among the other Maharashtra batsmen, reached double figures by making 20.

In reply, table toppers Karnataka lost Uthappa to the first ball he faced from S Fallah before recovering to 125 for one in 44 overs with opener K B Pawan (74 in 147 balls, nine fours) and G Satish (40 in 119 balls, five fours) at the crease.

Brief scores: Maharashtra 105 all out in 39.5 overs (G Gaekwad 21, K Adhav 20; R Vinay Kumar 5 for 40, A Mithun 3 for 32) v Karnataka 125 for one in 44 overs (K B Pawan batting 74, G Satish batting 40).