da brwin： Saurashtra left hander Sitanshu Kotak held the Rest of India inningstogether on the third day of the Irani Trophy tie against Karnatakaat the Chinnaswamy stadium in Bangalore on Sunday
Partab Ramchand03-Oct-1999Saurashtra left hander Sitanshu Kotak held the Rest of India inningstogether on the third day of the Irani Trophy tie against Karnatakaat the Chinnaswamy stadium in Bangalore on Sunday. The Rajkot bornbatsman, who turns 27 on October 19, made an unbeaten 116 asRest of India made 298 for six off 116.5 overs at stumps inreply to Karnataka’s first innings total of 170.In placing Rest of India in a happy position with two more days stillleft in the match, Kotak was helped in no small measure by ReetinderSingh Sodhi of Punjab and Harvinder Singh Sodhi of Madhya Pradesh. Restof India, resuming at 93 for three, were none too happily placed at110 for five. First the left hander from Tamil Nadu Hemang Badaniwas caught by Somasundar off Srinath for 13. Three runs laterskipper Mongia was caught by the same fielder off Ganesh for one.Karnataka, after being bowled out for a moderate total, seemed to havecome back into the game strongly. But Kotak who was on 12 overnight,started playing his strokes freely. He and Reetinder Singh Sodhistarted the recovery process by adding 80 runs off 30 overs. Sodhi whomatched Kotak in run production was then out for 39, being held byAnand Katti off Yalvigi. Sodhi, who turns 19 on October 18, faced96 balls, hitting four of them to the fence.Harvinder Singh Sodhi joined Kotak and the two carried on from whereReetinder Singh Sodhi had left. Kotak gained in confidence and soonreached a well deserved century. Sodhi, who turns 28 on October 17,gave him able support and when play was stopped because ofbad light with 10.1 overs remaining, Rest of India had gained a firstinnings lead of 128 runs. Kotak and Sodhi have so far added 108 runsin 39.3 overs for the unbroken seventh wicket partnership. Kotakhas faced 278 deliveries and has hit 11 boundaries. He came to thecrease on Saturday evening when the score was 69 for three andsustained the innings in an exemplary manner. Sodhi, shortly beforeclose, reached his half century. He has faced 110 balls and hiteight of them to the ropes.For Karnataka, Srinath, Ganesh and Yalvigi took two wickets each.Kumble however finished the day with the disappointing figuresof no wicket for 81 runs off 22.5 overs.