Hubli, Dec 14 (IANS) A double strike by paceman Manpreet Gony kept Punjab in the hunt as Karnataka slid to 59 for two after restricting the visitors to 174 in the first innings on the first day of the Group A Ranji Trophy league match here Saturday.
Karnataka, who won the toss and opted to field, struck telling blows as Punjab collapsed from 106 for one to 174 all out with opener Manan Vohra scoring a fighting 69 (94b, 10×4).
Vohra and Uday Kaul (29) added 93 runs for the second wicket, but thereafter, it was all downhill for Punjab whose skipper Mandeep Singh chipped in with 32.
In reply, Karnataka lost opener Mayank Agarwal (17) and No.3 Ganesh Satish (5) as Gony dismissed both as the hosts ended the day on 59 for two.
Brief scores:
Punjab (1st innings) 174 all out in 54.5 overs (Manan Vohra 69, Uday Kaul 29, Mandeep Singh 32, Stuart Binny 3 for 60, KP Appanna 3 for 29) vs Karnataka (1st innings): 59 for 2 in 27 overs (Lokesh Rahul 22 not out, Manpreet Gony 2 for 20).