Jadeja gets a chance; no problems for North

By Our Sports Reporter

VADODARA, JAN. 22. Amit Bhandari and Vikram Rathour were the main performers, but Ajay Jadeja still hogged the attention in North Zone's facile seven-wicket triumph over East Zone, in the Deodhar Trophy match at the IPCL Stadium here on Saturday.

Jadeja's participation had looked uncertain as various states of North objected to his inclusion since he was not an original choice.

North manager Mr. Suresh Luthra received telephone calls from various officials of the zone, including Delhi District Cricket Association (DDCA) vice-president Mr. Chetan Chauhan, Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) vice- president Mr. C.K. Khanna and National selector Madan Lal. It was gathered that `most' of the North states had been taken into confidence regarding the matter, except Mr. Sunil Dev, the zonal selection committee convenor.

North put the opposition in on a wet turf and took the field with 10 players, Jadeja's name figuring in the 11. With just an over gone, Jadeja arrived, after Robin Singh had disposed of Nikhil Haldipur with a lovely delivery that moved away from the left- hander. East lost wickets at regular intervals, Jadeja chipping in with two-opener Shiv Sundar Das and No. 3 Rohan Gavaskar, using a fairly new ball.

By bowling eight overs, Jadeja proved his fitness in the presence of National selection committee chairman Chandu Borde and BCCI Secretary Mr. J.Y. Lele. Though Jadeja did not make many runs later in the match, he had done his bit by fielding swiftly and throwing from the deep as well.

The best bowler for North was Robin's new-ball partner Amit Bhandari, who claimed three wickets, conceding just 15 runs in his 10 overs. Moving the ball both ways, Bhandari induced an edge from Pravanjan Mullick, had Saba Karim caught by Virender Sehwag at gully and later dismissed Utpal Chatterjee, who played on. Apart from the three wickets, Bhandari also had the other batsmen in knots. Das, in particular, was beaten time and again outside the off-stump.

Sanjay Raul's 53 off 72 deliveries, which came with the help of six fours, helped East reach 166. Punjab off-spinner Sarandeep Singh bagged three wickets, including that of Raul, luring the batsmen with well-flighted deliveries.

With the pitch playing better, North had no problem in getting to the total. Vikram Rathour struck 70 off 91 balls, with the help of nine fours and a six. He played some characteristic shots on the on-side and executed a few good square-cuts too.

lThe scores:

East: S.S. Das lbw b Jadeja 23, N. Haldipur c Dahiya b Robin 0, R. Gavaskar c Sehwag b Jadeja 25, P. Mullick c Dharmani b Bhandari 1, Saba Karim c Sehwag b Bhandari 3, Sanjay Raul st Dahiya b Sarandeep 53, R.R. Parida c Sehwag b Sarandeep 14, Utpal Chatterjee b Bhandari 11, L.R. Shukla lbw b Sanghvi 18, P. Jayachandra (not out) 3, Jabed Zaman c Dahiya b Sarandeep 7; Extras (lb-3, w-3, nb-2) 8; Total (in 44.5 overs) 166.

Fall of wickets: 1-10, 2-45, 3-46, 4-54, 5-61, 6-87, 7-108, 8- 155, 9-157.

North bowling: Robin 9-3-36-1, Bhandari 10-3-15-3, Jadeja 8-0-38- 2, Sanghvi 10-0-33-1, Sarandeep 7.5-1-41-3.

North: Ashu Dani lbw b Shukla 27, V. Rathour c Parida b Raul 70, A. Jadeja c Karim b Jayachandra 13, P. Dharmani (not out) 25, V. Sehwag (not out) 16; Extras (b-5, w- 9, lb-2) 16; Total (for three wkts. in 31.3 overs) 167.

Fall of wickets: 1-45, 2-90, 3-132.

East bowling: Shukla 8-0-37-1, Zaman 9-1-42-0, Jayachandra 6-1-35-1, Raul 4.3-0-23-1, Utpal Chatterjee 2-0-14-0, R. Gavaskar 2-0-11-0.

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