Ranji Trophy: Karnataka's surrender surprises all

KOLKATA: It's third time unlucky for Karnataka as they crashed out of the Ranji Trophy losing the semifinal clash against Bengal at the Eden Gardens here on Tuesday. The team went behind closed dressing room after the defeat and left the ground refusing to speak to the media.
However, while everyone was celebrating Bengal's victory at their home, many expressed surprise at the way Karnataka surrendered meekly."I expected a lot more competition," ex-India wicketkeeper Deep Dasgupta said after the match got over inside four days.
"I thought it was a bad day when they (Karnataka) were bowled out for 122 in the first innings. I accept Bengal bowled very well, but still that score was not expected," he said. "And they repeated it in the second innings too!" he exclaimed.
"Had Krishnappa Gowtham and Abhimanyu Mithun not thrown their bat, they would have again folded for 120-odd," he added.
The Karnataka side was found wanting in all departments of the game and did not deserve to be in the final after such a horrible show. They batted poorly, their ground fielding and catching were below par and their bowlers bowled no-balls at important junctures which was not expected at this level of the game from a side which has won two trophies already this season.
"It's a crime to bowl such no balls in a match and that too not once, but twice," a former Bengal player said about Ronit More's two no balls in this match.
Dasgupta agreed that Karnataka batsmen were exposed to quality seam bowling. "But this has been the bane for almost all Indian batsmen," he said. "It's difficult to come playing the white ball and adjust to the red ball," he said indicating the way KL Rahul faltered in this match.
"Rahul always seemed to have greater time to play his shots. But we knew we had a chance when we found he managed just 26 runs from 67 deliveries in the first innings," Bengal pacer Ishan Porel said.
Bengal spin bowling consultant Utpal Chatterjee revealed the dressing room mood which did not speak highly about India player's quality. "We were hardly concerned about (Manish) Pandey on the fourth morning. We knew, with the red-ball moving, it was just a matter of time," he said.
Karnataka no doubt have much to ponder.