BANGALORE, OCT 17: New Zealand were made to run the gauntlet as Karnataka fielded and bowled superbly on the opening day of the three-day fixture at the KSCA Stadium on Sunday. The home side showed the champion stuff they were made of as they had the visitors gasping for breath within the first session of play this morning. Only a highly combative and determined 115 (323m, 14x4, 1x6) by skipper Stephen Fleming and his 105-run fifth wicket stand with Nathan Astle (58: 9x4) saved the Kiwis the ignominy of being bowled out cheaply by a state side.Buoyed by a pitch that had plenty of life early on, the Ranji Trophy champions' medium pacers Dodda Ganesh and Mansoor Ali Khan ripped open the top order of the Kiwi batting this morning.
Opting to bowl first, the Karnataka new ball bowlers gave an outstanding display of swing and seam bowling and the New Zealand innings at 27 for four was in total disarray. In such a make or break situation Fleming played the role of sheet anchor with great determination to turnthe tables on Karnataka.
Later, Adam Parore (27 batting), and the defiant Fleming saw through the day with their fine unbeaten 67-run seventh wicket stand.
SCOREBOARD
New Zealand (1st innings):
Horne c A Vijay b Mansoor 7, Bell lbw Ganesh 0, Harris b Mansoor 7, Spearman b Mansoor 4, Fleming batting 115, Astle run out 58, Cairns c&b Yalvigi 14, Parore batting 27; Extras: (b3, lb6, nb7, w1) 17. Total: (for 6 wickets in 90 overs) 249
Fall of wickets: 1-5, 2-17, 3-18, 4-27, 5-132, 6-182
Bowling: Ganesh 21-4-46-1, MA Khan 18-5-56-3, Kumble 9-1-20-0, Yalvigi 17-5-54-1, Joshi 10-4-28-0, V Bharadwaj 11-1-31-0, Somasunder 4-2-5-0
Copyright © 1999 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
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