The Hindu : Robin's heroics not enough for Sical

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Sep 08, 2002

Sport

Sport - Cricket

Robin's heroics not enough for Sical

By Our Sports Reporter

HYDERABAD SEPT. 7. Sical camp sent an `SOS' to star cricketer Robin Singh to play in today's match in the Coromandel King Moin-ud-Dowla Gold Cup all-India invitation cricket tournament match at ECIL Grounds. And, the brilliant all-rounder responded well with an aggressive, unbeaten 54 (43 balls, 2 x 4, 5 x 6) — three of the sixes clearing the ground. Yet, his heroics were not just good enough to prevent the rival, Chemplast, from recording a 29-run win in the end.

Crisis is nothing knew for this fighting cricketer. Back from his stint as the India under-19 coach, Robin Singh walked in when his team was struggling at 78 for four in 19th over, chasing a victory target of 183 in 33 overs (overnight rain delayed the start and reduced the contest to 33 overs each).

Perhaps, he may have erred in expecting some support from his teammates. At one end, Robin was clobbering the left-arm spinner Ram Kumar for two sixes, driving left-arm spinner Vidyut Sivaramakrishnan for another huge six over long-off, batsmen were making guest appearances at the other end.

Not one of them showed the inclination to stay and rotate the strike to let the master do the rest. The plain fact that the five batsmen, who followed him to the crease, could score just 12 runs was a sad reflection on the commitment in contrast to the gem of an effort from the captain.

To their credit, Chemplast bowlers ensured that they kept taking wickets at the other end. It was medium-pacer L. Balaji who first had Reuben Paul snicking to wicketkeeper a perfect away swinger. Soon, Sical had the misfortune of seeing Badri needlessly run out trying to steal a single even while Vidyuth Sivaramakrishnan was appealing for an lbw verdict against him. .

The scores:

At ECIL: Chemplast 182 for seven in 33 overs (Vidyut Sivaramakrishnan 33, Hemang Badani 42, G. Harish 35 not out, Md. Faiz three for 29) bt Sical 153 32.1 overs (Robin Singh 54 not out, L. Balaji three for 15, D. Vasu three for 19).

At Osmania: HCA President's XI 200 in 49.4 overs (Mohd. Imran 71, Ahmed Quadri 33 not out, S. Sriram three for 33) lost to MRF XI 204 for five in 45.1 overs (S. Ramesh 69, S. Sriram 71).

At RRC: Indian Overseas Bank vs Madhya Pradesh (match abandoned due to wet ground conditions).

At NFC: India Cements 213 for seven in 40 overs (J.R. Madangopal 106) bt Vidarbha 156 in 36.4 overs (Prabodhan Janbandhu 51, Ulhas Gandhe 48 not out, Rajesh Sharma three for 42).

At HMWSSB: Combined Districts XI 123 for six in 32 overs (Solomon 31 not out, D.R. Seshagiri Rao 32, Sourashis Lahiri three for 27) lost to CAB 124 for two in 25.5 overs (Arijeet Basu 55, Rohan Gavaskar 39).

At AOC: IOC 148 for nine in 27 overs (Sarasvathi Reddy three for 32) bt Andhra 145 for seven (L.N. Prasad Reddy 40, Amit Dani four for 32).

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