da bet nacional： VVS Laxman, with an unbeaten 346, created Ranji history by becomingthe first batsman to score two triple hundreds in the 65 year oldcompetition as Hyderabad rubbed Karnataka’s nose in the dirt for thesecond day running in their Ranji Trophy
Sankhya Krishnan12-Apr-2000VVS Laxman, with an unbeaten 346, created Ranji history by becomingthe first batsman to score two triple hundreds in the 65 year oldcompetition as Hyderabad rubbed Karnataka’s nose in the dirt for thesecond day running in their Ranji Trophy semifinal at the MChinnaswamy stadium on Wednesday.Undeterred by the loss of Mohd. Azharuddin for 123 in the seventh overof the day, after a 288 run fourth wicket association, Laxman marchedserenely onward, abetted by two able partners in Vanka Pratap andParth Satwalkar. Cuts, drives, pulls and flicks all flowed inprofusion from Laxman’s blade as he played every shot in the bookexcept the hook to lift Hyderabad to an invincible position of 663/6at close of play.Azhar and Laxman began in frenetic fashion in the morning, takingseven boundaries off Prasad and Ganesh in the first six overs. Azharescaped a run out appeal when Mithun Beerala threw down the stumpsfrom point with a direct hit. He also tried to pull a shortish onefrom Prasad but the ball lobbed off the edge, landing just short ofmid on. The danger signals were there and in the same over as the twoafore mentioned incidents, Prasad had his revenge. Driving away fromhis body, Azhar presented a catch to Vijay Bharadwaj at second slipwho grabbed it with alacrity.Laxman survived another chance at 194 when Bharadwaj stretched to hisright at first slip and got both hands to the ball but it justwouldn’t stick. Laxman duly got to his double ton with a gentle pushthrough the on side to leave everyone wondering what the final harvestwould be. Vanka Pratap played some elegant on drives, both the loftedversion and all along the ground as he added 124 for the fourth wicketwith VVS before Joshi bowled him round his legs when he missed anintended sweep.Satwalkar continued the good work, holding up one end, and permittingLaxman to forage for runs without a care in the world. Laxman simplylooked unstoppable and although the Karnataka attack toiled manfullythey were clueless on where to bowl to him. Indeed they seemed tothrow in the towel at one point as the irregular bowlers, B Akhil andA Vijay conducted the proceedings when Laxman reached the vicinity ofhis triple hundred. He got to the landmark with a push into the coversthat was worth only a single but for the kindness of Venkatesh Prasadwho managed to give away an overthrow from close range.Satwalkar departed in the first over after tea, caught behind by Naiduoff Akhil for 37. In one final flourish, Laxman hit Joshi over longoff for the first six of the day and the second of his innings, andalso lofted Ganesh for back to back boundaries over cover andmidoff. After Riaz Sheikh was sixth out at 636, the shutters werepulled down as Laxman and Fiaz Ahmed played for the morrow. ThilakNaidu had been immune to the fielding lapses all this while and gaveaway his first bye with the score at 646 although five more followedsoon after when the ball went through to hit the helmet behind him. Aclutch of records beckon tomorrow when Laxman resumes his innings andHyderabad will probably have no compunctions in snuffing out the lastembers of Karnataka’s resolve by extending their innings for plentymore.