Friday, January 26, 2007

It's advantage Karnataka

reads the title of this column in the Hindu.

Karnataka hold the edge in potential classic - says the CricInfo website.

I looked at the score cards, read the match reports, and still cannot understand how exactly did these worthies come to this particular conclusion.

  1. In the case the game ends in a draw, Bengal move to the finals on account of their first innings lead.
  2. Karnataka lasted 168.5 overs in their second innings after collapsing for 89 all out in thier first essay.
  3. Bengal lasted 100.1 overs in thier first essay.
  4. By the account in the Hindu, the pitch, the most crucial factor in the run chase, was benign, offering not much assistance to the pacers or the spinners.
  5. Bengal have at least 3 more seasoned batsmen in Deep Dasgupta, Rohan Gavaskar and Laxmi Ratan Shukla, cooling their heels in the pavilion.
  6. Bengal need another 236 runs in 90 overs ( RR 2.62) with 8 wickets in hand to win the game.
So, I ask you... How exactly is Karnataka in the drivers seat ?

PS: - Did CricInfo officially sign on as cheerleaders for Karnataka? You would think so, given the extraordinary coverage given to Venky Prasad's boys vis a vis 26 other teams playing the Ranji Trophy.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Isn't the Cricinfo office now located in Bangalore ? Dileep 'Dravid is god' Premachandran et al are also from there. that might explain the coverage.

Anyhow, so much for holding the edge - Bengal won by 6 wickets.