Duleep Trophy: Karun Nair's run-glut continues as teams share honours on day two

The Karnataka batsman had made scores of 99 and 166 n.o. in the previous game -- scoring a first-class hundred after nearly two years -- and on Friday he picked up from where he had left off.

Nair's assured half-century, which featured some attacking stroke-play against spin, led India Red to 140 for two at stumps on the second day.

Karun Nair remained in sparkling form in the Duleep Trophy, scoring an unbeaten 77 for India Red on the second day of its clash with India Green at the Alur grounds here.

The Karnataka batsman had made scores of 99 and 166 n.o. in the previous game -- scoring a first-class hundred after nearly two years -- and on Friday he picked up from where he had left off.

Nair's assured half-century, which featured some attacking stroke-play against spin, led India Red to 140 for two at stumps on the second day. It came after Green had been bowled out for 440, with off-spinner Akshay Wakhare taking five for 103.

Batting collapse

In the morning, the overnight pair of Priyam Garg and Akshay Wadkar emerged unscathed from the first hour of play. But Garg was dismissed in soft fashion after having done the hard work. On 53, he drove the left-arm spin of Sarvate to short extra-cover, where Priyank Panchal held a good, low catch.

Dharmendrasinh Jadeja walked out to bat and blazed a few boundaries, as he and Akshay Wadkar added 51 runs for the sixth wicket. But Wakhare claimed the Saurashtra man for 37 (54b, 5x4), the left-hander also finding Panchal with an uppish drive. It triggered a collapse, with Sandeep Warrier getting rid of Rahul Chahar and Ankit Rajpoot in quick succession. India Green lost its last five wickets for 35 runs as an extended first session came to a close.

Nair comes good

"The pitch is quite flat and slow; we should have got around 550," Jadeja admitted later. The left-arm spinner claimed both the Red wickets to fall on the day. Panchal, who made a patient 31, was surprised by one delivery that bounced higher than normal, and the ball lobbed off his glove to first slip.

Ankit Kalsi, who was hugely impressive in the previous fixture, slashed at a Jadeja delivery and was caught on the second attempt by Dhruv Shorey at slip. Nair, who walked out at one drop after Abhimanyu Easwaran had retired hurt with a gluteal strain, then took control. The Karnataka man was initially troubled by Ishan Porel, but he came into his own steadily. He took the spinners on, striking 14 fours in all.

Nair had Mahipal Lomror (22 n.o.) for company at the close, as the players walked off for bad light. There is still work to be done.