Date:19/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/19/stories/2008101959992300.htm

Sport - Cricket

Eight-run win for Chandigarh Lions

K.C. Vijaya Kumar

Ahmedabad: Chandigarh Lions had the last roar as it snatched an eight-run victory over Chennai Superstars in the Indian Cricket League match at the Sardar Patel Stadium here on Saturday night.

Chasing 163, the Chennai Superstars’ opening combine of Ian Harvey and G. Vignesh found the fence before their cross-batted swipes proved fatal.

Seamer Darryl Tuffey, who reaped the rewards, got one more as Stuart Law slashed to slips.

Costly over

At 40 for three in six overs, Russel Arnold (35) and R. Sathish (38) stabilised the innings with singles before freeing their arms in a Dinesh Mongia over that went for 15 runs.

Arnold had a reprieve when he was caught off an Andrew Hall no-ball but the medium pacer made amends four deliveries later, dismantling the stumps. Arnold and Sathish shared a 62-run, fourth-wicket partnership.

Sathish guided the chase, driving L. Ablish and pulling Ishant Malhotra through a butter-fingered Gaurav Gupta on the square-leg fence. However, Ishant had the last laugh as Sathish was caught at long-off. It finally boiled down to 17 from the last over bowled by Hall but it proved to be too stiff a task.

Chennai Superstars scored 155 for eight in 20 overs.

Earlier after Chennai Superstars opted to field, Chandigarh Lions found its adrenaline right from the first ball as Mathew Elliott (27) clouted Shabbir Ahmed over square-leg. Elliott continued to flex his muscles and his opening partner Lou Vincent, perhaps taking the cue, swished hard and gifted his wicket to R. Jesuraj.

Elliott also perished trying to whip Nantie Hayward, who also stunned T.P. Singh with a left-handed reflex catch on his follow through.

Dinesh Mongia (47, 29b, 8x4, 1x6) drove Jesuraj before striking left-arm spinner Syed Mohammad for 6, 4 and 4. Mongia shared a 66-run, fourth-wicket partnership with Gaurav Gupta (25) before succumbing to Shabbir Ahmed. Chandigarh Lions finished at 163 for eight in 20 overs.

The scores: Chandigarh Lions 163 for eight in 20 overs (Dinesh Mongia 47, Mathew Elliott 27, Gaurav Gupta 25, Nantie Hayward four for 21, Shabbir Ahmed two for 30) bt Chennai Superstars 155 for eight in 20 overs (R. Sathish 38, Russel Arnold 35, Ian Harvey 21, Darryl Tuffey three for 13, Andrew Hall three for 23).

Sunday’s matches: Mumbai Champs vs Royal Bengal Tigers, 2 p.m.; Ahmedabad Rockets vs Lahore Badshahs, 7.30 p.m.