Vinay Kumar furious after umpiring howler regarding Cheteshwar Pujara: The Karnataka pacer looked extremely angry.
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During the second semi final of the ongoing season of Ranji Trophy between Karnataka and Saurashtra at Bengaluru, former Karnataka captain and current pacer R Vinay Kumar looked wrathful after the turned down his appeal against Saurashtra batsman Cheteshwar Pujara.
On Day 4 of the nail-biting contest, the hosts has reduced Saurashtra to 23-3 in the sixth over. Chasing 279 runs to win the match against a potent Karnataka bowling attack, the visitors looked in all sorts of trouble.
While any other team would have been most likely of succumbing to pressure, it wasn’t the case with Saurashtra mainly because of the presence of Pujara. The gritty and determined batsman did what he is known for.
Cheteshwar Pujara 49 fc 100s
20 for Saurashtra in #RanjiTrophy
18 for India in Tests
4 for India A
2 for India Blue
1 for West Zone/Rest of India/Derbyshire/Nottinghamshire/Yorkshire— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) January 27, 2019
Cheteshwar Pujara has appeared for 10 fc sides during his career.
Has made 100s for nine sides.
The only side he has missed out is Board President’s XI (in 1 match has an unbeaten fifty!)#RanjiTrophy— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) January 27, 2019
However, his awe-inspiring innings received a major reprieve when the umpire refused to give him out off Vinay Kumar. It all happened on the third delivery of the 25th over when Vinay Kumar beat Pujara outside the off-stump.
ALSO WATCH: Manish Pandey sledges Cheteshwar Pujara, the latter responds with a six.
Just as the ball was grabbed by Karnataka wicket-keeper Srinath Sharath, the whole of Karnataka team along with the crowd appealed for dismissing Pujara on 34 would have been the match for them. After the umpire ruled the decision in the favour of the batsman, an infuriated Vinay Kumar suggested him to wear spectacles for better vision.
Replays confirmed a sound just as the ball went past the bat. With the batsman’s bat nowhere near his body, one can guess what the sound came from.
For all my friends in Australia who are wondering if Pujara is tired of batting, the news is he has already played 300 balls in the Ranji trophy semi-final and is still batting.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) January 27, 2019
australia’s bowlers should be comforted by the fact that even the mighty karnataka attack is finding it impossible to dislodge pujara #RanjiTrophy
— Gaurav Kalra (@gauravkalra75) January 27, 2019
It is worth mentioning that Pujara received a second chance in the first innings as well. After being caught behind in a similar manner, Pujara refused to walk as the umpire had ruled the decision in his favour.
After being dismissed on 45, the 31-year old right-hand batsman might have missed the opportunity then but was at his utmost best today as he ended up scoring his 49th First-class century. On the back of a 201-run unbeaten stand for the fourth wicket between Pujara (108) and Sheldon Jackson (90), Saurashtra ended the day at 224-4 in 74 overs.
While Saurashtra require another 55 runs to win the match, Karnataka need seven more wickets of the last day of the riveting match. Watch the full video below:
— Mushfiqur Fan (@NaaginDance) January 27, 2019
