Kaif comes up with a gritty knock

By Ritesh Gupta

KANPUR, JAN. 12. It is always satisfying to achieve the desired result, especially when you are not in your element. Though Mohammad Kaif was unable to exhibit an array of strokes at the much familiar Green Park Stadium, he was successful in building an innings of 83 because of his perseverance.

With his effort, the Allahabad youngster enabled Central Zone reach 417 for eight against East Zone on the second day of the Duleep Trophy league match here on Friday.

Taking into consideration the foggy conditions after a two-hour delay, Kaif, with support from Murali Kartik (45, 50 balls), placed Central in a position from where it can try and go for five points.

Contrary to the explosive manner in which runs were plundered on Thursday, Central was forced to graft, mainly by Javed Zaman, who was consistent with a probing length while ending up with four wickets.

The Orissa bowler, who did a fine job on a batsman- friendly pitch, was unfortunate not to collect his third wicket of the day as Rajiv Kumar spilled a chance to dismiss Kartik in the final session.

Zaman troubled Central most even as Kaif, who resumed on 12, struggled to find the gaps. But the same bowler trapped Gagan Khoda leg before. Zaman found an able ally in left-arm spinner Sukhwinder Singh, who tied Kaif down with his nagging length for a while.

Just as Zaman slackened, Kaif broke the shackles. Though he failed to find his timing against the quicker bowlers, he was more assured against the spinners.

Getting to the pitch of the deliveries, the skipper of the triumphant under-19 World Cup team collected two successive boundaries on two ocassions off Sukhwinder Singh to near his half-century. His straight drives off the slow bowlers stood out in his innings.

Unruffled by another dismissal, that of Raja Ali, who curtailed his tenure after a series of indiscreet strokes, Kaif continued his doughty effort.

Holding the innings together, Kaif's task was made much easier when he received help from Abhay Sharma (31) in moving the score past the 350-mark.

After Abhay's departure, Kaif had a reprieve on 76 when he was dropped by Shiv Sundar Das at cover off Sanjay Raul. Failing to capitalise on the opportunity, Kaif finally perished when he went for an airy drive and was caught behind off Zaman.

After Kaif's exit, East was frustrated by Kartik, who played some authentic strokes. Collecting runs with sweeps and paddle strokes to begin with, the Railway spinner played some wristy strokes and pulls off the new ball. The left-hander was adjudged leg before to Sukhwinder, who ended with three wickets.

The scores:

Central - 1st innings: J.P. Yadav b Zaman 95, Amit Pagnis c Haldipur b Diwakar 7, Amay Khurasiya c Parida b Zaman 110, Mohammad Kaif c D.D. Gupta b Zaman 83, Gagan Khoda lbw b Zaman 6, Raja Ali c and b Sukhwinder 16, Abhay Sharma c U. Chatterjee b Sukhwinder 31, Murali Kartik lbw b Sukhwinder 45, Kulamani Parida (batting) 9, Ashish W. Zaidi (batting) 3, Extras (b-4, lb-7, nb- 1) 12, Total (for eight wickets) 417.

Fall of wickets: 1-30, 2-212, 3-221, 4- 249, 5-280, 6-351, 7-375, 8-409.

East bowling: Javed Zaman 33-5-95-4, Mihir Diwakar 24-6-95-1, Utpal Chatterjee 20-6-75-0, Sukhwinder Singh 25-5-89-3, Sanjay Raul 14-0-52-0.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Sport
Previous : All set for Corus tournament
Next     : Of more coldwave and Kanitkar's fifty