Vinay Kumar: I am happy with the three points

Although Karnataka got away with the innings lead and collected three vital points, Vidarbha showed great resilience to almost pull off a win at the Vidarbha Cricket Stadium on Thursday.

Karnataka skipper R. Vinay Kumar said he is happy with his team's performance against Vidarbha.

Seldom does it happen that in a drawn Ranji Trophy game, both teams have plenty to boast of at the end of a match.

It was one such occasion at the Vidarbha Cricket Association stadium on Thursday with Karnataka first getting away with the innings lead before Vidarbha showed great resilience to almost pull off a stunning win in the last session.

No wonder both the camps were extremely delighted with the way their respective performances.

“I am happy with the three points. Maybe, we could have cut down on the runs, which we gave in the first innings, where they scored 307 runs. We could have saved 50 runs there,” said Karnataka captain R. Vinay Kumar.

“It is the first game of the season, and boys might have had butterflies in their stomach. This Vidrabha game will help us when we go into the next game.”

Vinay confident of recovery

Vinay Kumar suffered from a neck injury, which forced him on the sidelines for a better part of the last two days' play.

The captain, though, was confident he would be fit in time for Karnataka's next match against Mumbai in Belagavi from November 20.

“I just have a small niggle and will be fine for the next game, just need to give two-three days rest,” he said.

Chandrakant Pandit proud of Vidarbha

Vidarbha coach Chandrakant Pandit was proud of the way his team fought back.

“There was a point when everyone thought that we had to save the match but in the end, we bounced back so well – unfortunately we didn't have enough time – that Karnataka had to save the game. I am very proud of the team,” Pandit said.

“Of course any team would be disappointed that in spite of doing well, you finish with just one point.  We had a plan in the afternoon to set them a target of around 180-190 in 40-45 overs. The plan failed a little bit particularly after Ganesh (Satish) fell to what according to us was a poor decision and then Apoorv Wankhade fell so 180-200 didn't happen but still the manner in which boys have bounced back and created a situation in the limited time, that makes me happy.”