Shillong, Nov 27: Karnataka have all but batted Meghalaya out of their match in the U-19 Cooch Behar Trophy with a commanding performance on the second day at the MCA Ground here today.
Resuming play on 130/1 in response to Meghalaya’s first innings total of 157 all out, Karnataka settled in from the start for a long innings and finally declared on 551/3, with Vijayaraj (pictured) shining with a peerless knock of 250 not out.
After making exactly 100 runs today, the second wicket partnership was broken by left-arm spinner Sachin Kumar, who trapped Swaroop S Hipparagi lbw for 99. Kumar, who produced 60 with the bat yesterday, then had Prakar Chaturvedi caught by Bosrang R Marak at mid-on for 47.
Every time a wicket fell Meghalaya tried to squeeze the visitors but new partnerships developed. The biggest and best was between Vijayaraj and Dhruv Prabhakar (72 not out), who put on 215 in an unbroken fourth wicket stand. Vijayaraj was the standout performer, though, with his superb innings of 250 consisting of 39 fours and three sixes from just 255 deliveries.
Karnataka declared with a first innings lead of 394 and Meghalaya had to face an uncomfortable nine overs before stumps, in which they made 12/1.
Mrityunjay Bharali, who was bowled off the first ball of the match yesterday, held on for 30 deliveries today to finish not out on 8, though he did lose his opening partner Avinash Rai for 4. The latter was replaced by Jeremiah Lyngdoh Kynshi, who did his duty by resisting for 10 deliveries until the end of play.
With two days still remaining, Meghalaya are 382 runs away from making Karnataka bat again, with the visitors hoping to wrap things up by tomorrow.
(Meghalaya Cricket Association photo)