Arun Kumar stands tall as Karnataka slump to 254/6

After being reasonably placed at 308/5, Delhi could add just 34 runsto their total on the second day. A strong performance from nationaldiscard Venkatesh Prasad cleaned up the Delhi tail. The last fourbatsmen failed to reach double digits as Prasad ended with figures of6/60.In response, the hosts were in a position of relative strength thanksto a century at the top of the innings from J Arun Kumar. Arun Kumarwho figured in Board President’s XI team that took on the SouthAfricans in Mumbai recently, blasted 17 fours and 3 sixes in his 229ball essay that yielded 127 runs.However, there was very little support for Arun Kumar at the otherend. Only wicketkeeper Tilak Naidu with 36 managed a score worthy ofmention. Vijay Bharadwaj, whose presence in the side was to boostKarnataka’s chances of securing a positive result, managed only 14runs before he was caught by Chaudhary off the bowling of left armseamer Ashish Nehra.Nehra scalped two more, caught behind, and ended with figures of 3 for65.At stumps, Karnataka were 254 for 6 and would have to bat really wellfrom this point on to avoid conceding a first innings lead to Delhi.