The Under-19 elite group quarter-final match between Jharkhand and Karnataka in progress at Keenan Stadium in Jamshedpur on Monday. Picture by Bhola Prasad

Jamshedpur, Jan. 3: It was a good start by visiting Karnataka colts on the opening day of the Under-19 Cooch Behar Trophy elite quarter-final tie today at Keenan Stadium.

A composed century by skipper S.A. Bhavane helped Karnataka boys pile up a comfortable score.

His knock of 105 was ably supported by opener R. Samarth’s 61.

The visitors were 219 for five at draw of stumps, with Shreyas Gopal and D.N. Borwankar at the crease on 17 and 6, respectively.

The visitors did not have a promising beginning. Opting to bat first on a passive track did not help matters for Karnataka, as opener L.S. Khan was out in the sixth over. Khan was run out by a smart throw from Jharkhand’s Jaskaran Singh with the scorecard reading 23.

But Samarth and Bhavane shrugged off the early setback by setting into a nice groove. Solid defence and flowing drives were the hallmark of their innings as the two stitched a handy partnership of 134 runs for the second wicket.

The captain was more enterprising, not leaving an opportunity to play shots on both sides of the wicket. The young lefthander was least troubled by Jharkhand’s attack and scored his runs with comfort and caution. Karnataka was 94 for one at lunch.

The batsmen continued their good job in the post-lunch session.

But Samarth, who looked confidently set for a long innings, was trapped leg before by Kaushal Singh for 61 off 195 balls (7 fours). Jharkhand tasted another quick success in the form of K.K. Nair’s wicket, who, at the score of 13, was also trapped leg before by Kaushal again, with the scorecard reading 187.

Bhavane did not stay long, edging medium-pacer Jaskaran behind the stumps. His 105 came off 230 deliveries, with 13 fours. K.V. Sidharth was the last batsman to exit, falling leg before to Jaskaran.