Bengaluru: Stand-in skipper Smaran R's (126, 218b, 11x4, 1x6) valiant hundred was the silver lining in an otherwise meagre batting performance as visitors Karnataka were bowled out for 274 in 82.2 overs on the first day's proceedings in their Ranji Trophy Elite Group B opener against Andhra in Mulapadu near Vijayawada.
In a short phase of play before stumps, the Karnataka bowlers were right on the money, reducing Andhra to 16/2 in five overs at the Dr Gokaraju Liala Gangaaraju ACA Cricket Ground on Sunday.
Former Karnataka batter Abhishek Reddy (10 n.o., 14b, 2x4) and India A product Shaik Rasheed (1 n.o., 2b) were in the middle for Andhra as they trail by 258 runs.
Ranji Trophy: Karnataka kickstart a new eraShikhar Shetty (1/8) picked up Hemanth Reddy (1, 5b) while Madhav Bajaj (1/3) bagged Tripurana Vijay (4, 9b, 1x4).
Earlier in the day, Smaran's decision to bat with Karnataka boasting a high-profile top-order did not pay off as Kavuri Saiteja (2/20) and KV Sasikanth (2/10) pulled the strings in the first session.
Opener Mayank Agarwal (5, 8b, 1x4) and one-drop Aneesh KV (0, 1b) were both sent back for a quick shower off consecutive deliveries, thanks to Saiteja.
The problems did not end there as India internationals K L Rahul (4, 11b, 1x4) and Karun Nair (8, 19b, 2x4) failed to see off the new ball, with Karnataka tottering at 22/4 in 7.5 overs.
Just when things looked really bleak, Smaran, captaining in the absence of Devdutt Padikkal who is out on national duty, along with stylish left-handed wicketkeeper-batter Shrijith K L (58, 82b, 3x4, 3x6) stitched a 111-run fifth-wicket partnership from 179 balls.
Saurabh Kumar (3/69) then picked up Shrijith and Manvanth Kumar (13, 54b). However, Smaran, fresh off an Irani Cup hundred, scored another ton, while adding a 59-run stand with Madhav (33, 53b) and 41 runs with Shikhar (13, 38b) to take Karnataka to a respectable score.
Scoreboard Karnataka (I Innings):
KL Rahul c Reddy b Sasikanth 4 (11b 1x4) Mayank Agarwal b Saiteja 5 (8b 1x4) KV Aneesh c Bhui b Saiteja 0 (1b) Karun Nair lbw Sasikanth 8 (19b 2x4) Smaran R b Mohan 126 (218b 11x4 1x6) Srijith KL lbw Saurabh 58 (82b 3x4 3x6) Manvanth Kumar lbw Saurabh 13 (54b 1x4) Ritesh Bhatkal b Vijay 6 (9b 1x4) Madhav Bajaj b Mohan 33 (53b 2x4 1x6) Shikhar Shetty c Reddy b Saurabh 13 (38b 2x4) Abhilash Shetty (not out) 0 (2b). Extras (B-5 LB-2 NB-1) 8. TOTAL (all out 82.2 overs) 274. Fall of wickets: 1-9 2-9 3-9 4-22 5-133 6-165 7-174 8-233 9-274 Bowling: Kavuri Saiteja 8-3-20-2 KV Sasikanth 5-2-10-2 Tripurana Vijay 25-5-71-1 Lalith Mohan 22-1-87-2 Saurabh Kumar 19.2-1-69-3 M Hemanth Reddy 3-0-10-0 ANDHRA (I Innings): M Hemanth Reddy c Smaran b Shikhar 1 (5b) Abhishek Reddy (batting) 10 (14b 2x4) Tripurana Vijay c Rahul b Madhav 4 (9b 1x4)Shaik Rasheed (batting) 1 (2b). TOTAL (for 2 wkts 5 overs) 16. Fall of wickets: 1-5 2-10. Bowling: Abhilash Shetty 1-0-5-0 Shikhar Shetty 2-0-8-1 Madhav Bajaj 2-0-3-1. Group B brief scores: At Secundarabad: Tripura: 134 all out in 44 overs (Bikramkumar Das 50 Hrituraj Roy 33; Aniketh Reddy 5-21 Tanay Thyagarajan 3-37) vs Hyderabad. At New Chandigarh: Assam: 68/3 in 23 overs (Denish Das 38 n.o.; Umesh Yadav 2-18) vs Punjab. At Rajkot: Saurashtra: 308/4 in 90 overs (Chirag Jani 83 Ravindra Jadeja 72 n.o. Prerak Mankad 92 n.o.; Dev Aditya Singh 3-41) vs Chhattisgarh.