The Hindu : Dramatic start to tourney

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Aug 18, 2003

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Sport - Cricket

Dramatic start to tourney

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI Aug. 17. There was a five-wicket haul for the All India Associate Banks left-arm spinner M. Majithia against the Combined Districts, while the proceedings were rather dramatic in the game between Hyderabad and Air India on the opening day of the first round of matches in the Sahara-Buchi Babu All-India invitation tournament, here, on Sunday.

Indeed, wickets fell in a hurry at the Vivekananda-SICAL ground. First, the Hyderabad XI, that had opted to bat, was skittled out for 147 in 65 overs, and then Air India found itself in a mess.

The Hyderabad innings never really recovered from a bumpy start, when paceman Gautam Yadav removed openers T. Suman (7) and Aaditya Agarwal (0). Then, medium-pacer Paul Valthathy (four for 25 in 12 overs) got into the act. Hyderabad's plight would have been worse, but for a 91-run fifth-wicket stand in 32.1 overs between Anup Pai (44, 132b, 2x4) and Ibrahim Khalil (50, 107b, 4x4).

However, left-arm paceman Syed Ahmed struck early for Hyderabad, scalping two batsmen, there were two run-outs and off-spinner Shivaji Yadav picked up a wicket as Air India slumped to 54 for five in 25 eventful overs.

The lack of partnerships hampered Combined Districts' progress after the Tamil Nadu side elected to bat against All India Associate Banks at CPT-IP. That the 64-run second-wicket stand in 14.1 overs between opener V. Gautham (72, 163b, 7x4) and Vishal R. Kuduwala (48, 50b, 5x4) would prove to be the highest in a score of 270 tells its own story.

Majithia (five for 90) and off-spinner Rajiv Sarhadi (four for 57) combined well, snaring wickets at regular intervals. The left-armer's two spells read 27-8-68-3 and 6-1-22-2.

After the start was delayed by 150 minutes at the SRMC (turf), owing to wet ground conditions, the TNCA President's XI, that had won the toss, reached 225 for five against Rajasthan in 68 overs of batting.

R. Prasanna (47, 95b, 8x4), coming in at No. 3, and K. Shree Vasudeva Das (62 batting, 135b, 9x4) gathered 71 for the fourth wicket in 23.2 overs. And the unbroken sixth-wicket partnership between Das and skipper D.J. Gokulakrishnan (44 batting, 90b, 2x4, 2x6) is worth 72 in 20.1 overs.

The scores:

Hyderabad 147 in 65 overs (Anup Pai 44, Ibrahim Khalil 50, Paul Valthathy four for 25) vs Air India 54 for five in 25 overs, at SICAL-Vivekananda.

Combined Districts 270 in 84.5 overs (V. Gautham 72, Vishal R. Kuduwala 48, M. Majithia five for 90, Rajiv Sarhadi four for 57) vs All India Associate Banks three without loss in 1.4 overs, at CPT-IP.

TNCA President's XI 225 for five in 68 overs (R. Prasanna 47, K. Shree Vasudeva Das 62 batting, D.J. Gokulakrishnan 44 batting) vs Rajasthan, at SRMC (turf).

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