Vinay Kumar decimated Mumbai with a hat-trick in the first hour of the Ranji Trophy quarterfinal as Karnataka bowled out the runner-ups for 173 in Nagpur.
To continue their domination, Karnataka replied with 115 for 1 by stumps, as they placed themselves 58 runs adrift of Mumbai with their in-form opener Mayank Agarwal unbeaten on 62 in 83 balls with M Abbas (12 not out) for company. Karnataka, who topped Group A, are all set to take the first innings lead.
Kumar in his 100th appearance for Karnataka became the 10th bowler form his state to claim a Ranji Trophy hat-trick.
The Karnataka captain got Mumbai wonder boy Prithvi Shaw (2), Jay Bista (1) and Akash Parkar (0) in his opening spell after sending Mumbai win to bat.
Prithvi Shaw edged a wide one to become Kumar’s first victim in the last ball of the very first over of the day. Bista then nicked a similar delivery to first slip at Karun Nair, who took a one handed catch, in the first ball of Kumar’s next over. Kumar then like a true seamer, foxed new man Parkar with a lovely in swing, that struck him right in front. (CLICK HERE TO WATCH KUMAR'S HAT-TRICK)
Kumar then removed in-form Siddhesh Lad with another outswinger in his fifth over and took two more wickets after lunch to bowl Mumbai out for a low total. Kumar returned with figures of 6 for 34 in his 15 over spell.
If it wasn't for a fighting half-century by Dhawal Kulkarni (75 off 132), Mumbai could have been bowled out under three figures.
Apart from Kumar, Sreenath Arvind picked up a couple of wickets while K Gowtham was the only spinner pick up a wicket on a day dominated by seamers