Date:10/03/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/03/10/stories/2008031055511900.htm

Sport - Cricket

Rockets loses way after good start

Special Correspondent

CHANDIGARH: Debutant Ahmedabad Rockets had a perfect blast-off in the inaugural tie of the Indian Cricket League’s Edelweiss 20s Challenge against Chandigarh Lions before losing its way towards the end of the innings at the Tau Devi Lal Stadium, Punchkula, here on Sunday.

Openers Wavell Hinds and Sachin Dholpure smashed half-centuries to lay the platform for a formidable total but Rockets could only manage 158 for five in 20 overs.

Incredibly, Rockets nose-dived from 122 without loss in 14 overs and lost five wickets for the addition of just 12 runs in the space of 17 deliveries.

Thereafter, if the debutants managed to cross the 150-mark it was only due to Heath Streak. The strongly-built Zimbabwean hit three boundaries off Andrew Hall in the last over of the innings.

Big hitting

Electing to bat, Rockets could not have asked for a better start. The right-handed Dholpure and left-handed Hinds took the bowlers to the cleaners with some big hitting. Hinds grew aggressive before Dholpure and went on to smash five sixes and three boundaries.

Dholpure complemented his senior partner well and surprisingly went on to overtake Hinds in their race to reach their respective half-centuries.

Dholpure who made his intentions clear with a straight-driven boundary off Hall, added two more boundaries and three sixes in his entertaining knock.

It was Dholpure’s dismissal, falling to a brilliant diving catch by Australian Mathew Elliot, which saw Chandigarh Lions making a comeback into the game.

This over from Dinesh Mongia, the 15th of the innings, caused more damage with skipper Damien Martyn and Hinds returning to the pavilion off successive deliveries. Martin was bowled and Hinds was run-out out at the non-striker’s end.

Chris Cairns, bowling the 17th over of the innings, added to the woes of Rockets.

He had Murray Goodwin caught by Daryl Tuffey before S. Sriram holed out to Tejinder Pal Singh. Eventually, when 15 runs came off the last over, Rockets had something to feel good about.

The scores: Ahmedabad Rockets 158 for five in 20 overs (Wavell Hinds 59, Sachin Dholpure 54, Dinesh Mongia two for 18, Chris Cairns two for 22) vs. Chandigarh Lions.