Toss of coin favours Karnataka

By Our Sports Reporter

BANGALORE, JAN. 14. Even after 586 runs were scored and 19 wickets fell, the winner in the semifinal of the Wills Trophy between Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh could not be decided. Madhya Pradesh chasing 294 to win ended up with 293 for 9 off the last ball. After a suspenseful period of about ten minutes, the match referee Rusi Jeejeebhoy called the captains Sujit Somasundar of Karnataka and Rajesh Chauhan of Madhya Pradesh to decide the match on spin of coin. Sujit called correctly.

Karnataka put in to bat, was off to a flier thanks to a opening partnership of 165 between J Arun Kumar (71) and Mithun Beerala (78). They raced to a century partnership in just 14 overs. J. Arun Kumar reached his half-century in 54 balls with six 4s and a 6. Mithun, who was at one point stuck on 16 runs, opened out hammering four boundaries off Sanjay Pandey's fifth over. It was left to part time bowler Abbas Ali to achieve the breakthrough. He had Arun snapped up by wicket-keeper Ankit Srivastav. The wicket-keeper had a hand in four dismissals, including the stumping of Mithun Beerala (78) off Manish Majithia.

Karnataka, however, lost its way and was six for 224. Cameo knocks from B. Akhil (23), Anand Yalvigi (32 off 19 balls with four 4s and a six) and David Johnson (17) boosted the team's total to 293. Abbas Ali (three for 37) was the best Madhya Pradesh bowler on view.

Madhya Pradesh lost opener J.P Yadav and pinch hitter Harvinder Sodhi with less the 40 on the board. But Amay Khurasia (79) and Devendra Bundela (47) added 85 for the third wicket in quick time.

However, the real hero for Madhya Pradesh was Santosh Sahu. Sahu displayed nerves of steel to keep the run rate well in hand.

A flick off his toes off Ganesh brought up Sahu's 50 (51b, 6x4) and with the last man Sanjay Pandey to keep him company from the second ball of the 47th over (267 for nine) he steered Madhya Pradesh to level the scores off the last ball.

* The scores: Karnataka: J Arun Kumar c Ankit Srivastav b Abbas Ali 71; Mithun Beerala st Srivastav b Manish Majithia 78; Sujit Somasundar lbw b Abbas Ali 17; V.S Thilak Naidu c Srivastav b Manish Majithia 4; B Akhil c Srivastav b Harvinder Sodhi 23; Somashekar Shiraguppi lbw b Abbas Ali 2; Anand Yalvigi b J.P Yadav 32; Anand Katti c Harvinder Sodhi b Rajesh Chauhan 9; David Johnson c Santosh Sahu b J.P Yadav 17; Dodda Ganesh c Sanjay Pandey b Chauhan 5; Mansur Ali Khan (not out) 6; Extras (lb 4, nb 14, w 11) 29; Total 293 in 49.3 overs.

Fall Of Wickets: 1-165, 2-176, 3-184, 4- 208, 5-222, 6-224, 7- 249, 8-268, 9-285.

Madhya Pradesh bowling: Harvinder Sodhi 8-0-50-1; Sanjay Pandey 5-0-41-0; J.P Yadav 10-0-58-2; Manish Majithia 10-0-52-2; Rajesh Chauhan 6.3-0-51-2; Abbas Ali 10-0-37-3.

Madhya Pradesh: J.P Yadav lbw b Mansur Ali Khan 9; Amay Khurasia c Sujit Somasundar b David Johnson 79; Harvinder Sodhi c Shiraguppi b Mansur Ali Khan 4; Devendra Bundela st. Shiraguppi b Anand Katti 47; Abbas Ali b Anand Yalvigi 20; Santosh Sahu (not out) 67; Raja Ali b Mansur Ali Khan 21; Rajesh Chauhan c Anand Yalvigi b Mansur Ali Khan 12; Ankit Srivastav (run out) 3; Manish Majithia (run out) 2; Sanjay Pandey (not out) 6; Extras (lb 9, nb 8, w 6) 23 ; Total 293 for 9 in 50 overs.

Fall Of Wickets: 1-34, 2-38, 3-123, 4-166, 5-178, 6- 209, 7-245, 8-258, 9-267.

Karnataka bowling: D.Ganesh 10-0-65-0; Mansur Ali Khan 10-0-54-4; D.Johnson 10-0-60-1; B. Akhil 5-0-28-0 (nb1); Anand Yalvigi 10-0- 42-1; Anand Katti 5-0-35-1.

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