It’s often said fast bowlers hunt in pairs. This was evident in the morning session of Day 2 of the Ranji Trophy quarter-final at the MCA-BKC ground on Saturday when Mumbai pacers Mohit Avasthi (4-27) and Tushar Deshpande (4-33) restricted Karnataka to 173, a first innings lead of just 53. Karnataka opener Mayank Agarwal (92) did the bulk of the scoring for the visitors. Mumbai had folded for just 120 in their first innings the previous day.

Avasthi and Deshpande made good use of the helpful morning conditions as moisture on the surface made scoring difficult. Deshpande picked up all four wickets in a spell of 6-1-20-4, including the prized scalp of Agarwal, edged to second slip Siddhesh Lad. Avasthi, fresh from a five-wicket haul against Delhi last week, polished off the opposition, dismissing Shikhar Shetty, clean bowled, before lunch.