Date:07/09/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/09/07/stories/2006090711362000.htm

Sport - Cricket

Mumbai stages a smart recovery

Principal Correspondent

HCA bundled out for 138 by Vidarbha

HYDERABAD: Mumbai, at 84 for four, was in trouble at one stage. But it made a remarkable recovery, thanks to an unbeaten fifth wicket partnership of 163 runs between Bhavin Thakkar (68 batting, 5x4) and Prashant Naik (73 batting, 6x4), to post a challenging 259 for four in 86 overs at the end of the first day of the three-day all-India Moin-ud-Dowla Gold Cup invitation knockout cricket tournament at the Gymkhana grounds.

Sourav Ganguly struck two vital blows in two tidy spells and Ranadeb Bose picked up two for 47 but none of the other bowlers of Cricket Association of Bengal looked promising.

A beauty

On a slow pitch, Ganguly stuck to a decent line and length and often generated bounce around the off-stump.

The ball that accounted for the Mumbai captain Wasim Jaffer was a beauty. Jaffer, surprised by the extra bounce, was squared up as he snicked to wicketkeeper Deep Dasgupta.

Earlier, Ganguly sent back Sahil Kukreja (55, 4x4) who fended a bouncing delivery awkwardly and was caught brilliantly by Manoj Tiwari diving to his left at second slip. The big crowd repeatedly cheered Ganguly and his two wickets drew a big applause.

Century by Kanitkar

At the AOC ground, Hrishikesh Kanitkar's century (120 not out, 226 balls, 9x4, 1x6) helped Maharashtra score 276 for seven in 90 overs against KSCA.

Karan Sharma struck 113 (175 balls, 14x4) to help Railways score 243 in 71.5 overs against MRF, while D.B. Ravi Teja's hundred (111, 191 balls, 14x4) enabled HCA President's XI post 228 in 81.2 overs against Chemplast at the NFC ground.

The scores:

At Gymkhana: Mumbai 259 for four in 86 overs (Sahil Kukreja 55, Bhavin Thakkar 68 batting, Prashant Naik 73 batting) vs. CAB.

At Uppal: HCA 138 (Alind Naidu five for 24) vs. Vidarbha 76 for four in 28 overs.

At NFC: HCA President's XI 228 in 81.2 overs (D.B. Ravi Teja 111, Syed Mohammed five for 25) vs. Chemplast 39 for one in nine overs.

At AOC: Maharashtra 276 for seven in 90 overs (Hrishikesh Kanitkar 120 not out) vs. KSCA.

At RRC-I: Railways 243 in 71.5 overs (Karan Sharma 113) vs. MRF 32 for no loss in 12 overs.

AT HMWSSB: Andhra 142 in 57.5 overs (Y. Venugopala Rao 45, Ganapathi five for 36) vs. TNCA Colts 46 for three in 20 overs.

At RRC-II: India Cements 147 for three in 41 overs (S. Suresh 57, R. Prasanna 46 batting) vs. Assam.