Binny, Robin help K'taka fight back

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Having carved a reputation as a batting all-rounder last season, Stuart Binny showed how valuable he is, helping Karnataka fight back in splendid fashion, against Baroda on Day Two of the opening Ranji Trophy encounter at the Moti Bagh stadium on Saturday.

At stumps on the second day, the visitors, in reply to the hosts’ first innings total of 406, were 148/2, still 258 adrift in what will be a battle for the innings honours with lot of responsibility on Robin Uthappa (67 batting) and Manish Pandey (10 batting).

With Irfan Pathan and Aditya Waghmode pulling Baroda out of the fire on the first day, Binny, who had picked up two wickets on day one, ensured Karnataka wouldn’t suffer any further misery as he struck repeatedly to come away with a five-wicket haul after the hosts had resumed at 308/4.

Overnight centurions Irfan added 16 to his 105 while Aditya was the first to depart being bowled by Binny after appending just eight to his overnight 121.

With Binny (5-65) picking up his third five-for in first class cricket and ably supported by left arm spinner KP Appanna, who scalped 3-53, the visitors came back to life as the hosts’ last six wickets fell for 98 runs.

Complementing Binny’s display, Karnataka openers Uthappa and KB Pawan (56) took the fight into the Baroda camp adding 112 for the first wicket before Gagandeep’s twin strikes getting rid of Pawan and Ganesh Satish pegged them back.

A composed Uthappa, eschewing his natural instincts to go after the bowling, put his head down and played a highly impressive knock remaining unbeaten on 67 (166b) with ten hits to the fence. Realising the gravity of the situation, Uthappa allowed Pawan to take the role of the aggressor as he put a huge price on his wicket.

With the Karnataka openers putting on a century partnership, Baroda skipper Yusuf Pathan turned a bit desperate before rookie left-arm pace man Gagandeep struck for them.

Playing just his fourth match, Gagandeep caught Pawan off his own bowling before trapping Satish leg before for just five to set up an exciting third day’s play.