Karnataka speedster Dodda Ganesh ripped through Gujarat's batting line-up with a five-wicket haul as the visitors seized an early initiative on the first day of four-day 'Elite' Group 'B' Ranji Trophy match at the Sardar Patel stadium, in Motera, Ahmedabad, on Wednesday.
Gujarat skipper Mukund Parmar's decision to bat failed to pay any dividends as the Karnataka bowlers exploited the early morning moisture to the hilt and bundled out the hosts for a paltry 210.
In reply, Karnataka were off to a blistering start and were 61 were no loss at draw of stumps.
Captain J Arun Kumar whacked seven boundaries for his unbeaten 40 off 43 balls.
Earlier, though Gujarat openers were off to a confident start, Ganesh produced the early breakthrough, sending back vice-captain Nilesh Modi (21) and Akash Christian (35).
Playing his 59th first class match, Ganesh also reached a personal milestone, bagging 250 wickets, when Modi caressed an outgoing delivery into the gloves of wicket-keeper Tilaknaidu in the 17th over of the day.
Ganesh then struck twice in the 22nd over -- trapping Amit Sood leg before for naught and sending back opener Christian, who gave Tilaknaidu his second catch.
Ganesh even had his share in fielding after his perfect throw to the keeper from mid-wicket had Gujarat skipper Mukund Parmar (4) run-out due to a terrible mix-up with Neeraj Patel.
A fighting half century from Bhavik Thakker (50) and 42-run last wicket partnership between tailenders Lalit Patel and Salil Yadav proved the saving grace for hosts, whose batting debacle on home soil has become a regular occurrence this season.
Scoreboard
Gujarat (1st innings):
N Modi c Tilaknaidu b Ganesh 21
A Christian c Tilaknaidu b Ganesh 35
N Patel c Prasad b Ganesh 31
A Sood lbw Ganesh 0
M Parmar run out (Ganesh) 4
B Thakker c Prasad b Joshi 50
T Patel b U Patel 9
S Bhatt c Chougulay b U Patel 0
S Trivedi c Prasad b Joshi 0
L Patel b Ganesh 25
S Yadav not out 16
Extras: (lb-4, w-2, nb-13) 19
Total: (all out in 78 overs) 210
Fall of wickets: 1-54, 2-66, 3-67, 4-73, 5-123, 6-158, 7-166, 8-166, 9-168.
Bowling: V Prasad 15-9-38-0, D Ganesh 19-2-61-5, S Joshi 25-5-56-2, U Patel 14-5-38-2, S Binny 5-2-13-0.
Karnataka (Ist innings):
J Arun Kumar batting 40
B Rowland batting 20
Extras: (lb-1) 1
Total: (in 14 overs) 61
Bowling: L Patel 6-0-24-0, S Trivedi 5-1-17-0, S Bhatt 2-1-11-0, S Yadav 1-0-8-0.
