Date:20/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/20/stories/2008102055421700.htm

Sport - Cricket

Bengal Tigers defeats Mumbai Champs

K.C. Vijaya Kumar

Ahmedabad: Royal Bengal Tigers registered a 12-run win over Mumbai Champs in the Indian Cricket League match at the Sardar Patel Stadium here on Sunday.

Set a target of 171, Mumbai Champs lost Taufeeq Umar amidst drama. Umar survived a referral for a caught-behind off the first ball but found A.N. Ahmed’s next delivery striking his pads. Umar opted for the referral but there was no escaping the walk back to the pavilion. Skipper Nathan Astle (33) walked in at zero for one and slashed hard in the company of Dheeraj Jadhav. Astle slammed Sujay Tarafdar for six and scripted a 55-run second-wicket partnership with Jadhav (39).

However, Astle’s tired hoick, followed by the exits of Hasan Raza and Kiran Powar, derailed Mumbai Champs despite the heroics of Johannes van der Wath (35) and Subhojit Paul (32). Mumbai Champs was all out for 158 in 19.5 overs.

Brisk start

Earlier, Royal Bengal Tigers’ skipper Craig McMillan won the toss, opted to bat and enjoyed a brisk start as Hamish Marshall and Deep Dasgupta shared an 84-run partnership in 9.5 overs. Marshall (55, 38b, 4x4, 3x6) lofted Astle and then toyed with left-arm spinner Avinash Yadav.

Dasgupta (32) meanwhile danced down the track and hoisted leg-spinner Shridhar Iyer into the stands. However, a similar charge left him stranded against Shridhar and with Marshall finding Michael Kasprowicz at long-off, the innings turned sluggish before southpaws Lance Klusener (30 not out) and Rohan Gavaskar (30 not out) helped Royal Bengal Tigers reach 170 for four in 20 overs.

Meanwhile on Saturday night, Chandigarh Lions defeated Chennai Superstars by eight runs.

The scores: Royal Bengal Tigers 170 for four in 20 overs (H. Marshall 55, D. Dasgupta 32, L. Klusener 30 not out, R. Gavaskar 30 not out, Shridhar Iyer two for 32, Avinash Yadav two for 40) bt Mumbai Champs 158 in 19.5 overs (D. Jadhav 39, J. van der Wath 35, N. Astle 33, Subhojit Paul 32, A.N. Ahmed three for 22, E. Ahmid two for 25, A.R. Adams two for 28).

Saturday’s match: Chandigarh Lions 163 for eight in 20 overs (D. Mongia 47, M. Elliott 27, Gaurav Gupta 25, N. Hayward four for 21, Shabbir Ahmed two for 30) bt Chennai Superstars 155 for eight in 20 overs (R. Sathish 38, R. Arnold 35, Ian Harvey 21, D. Tuffey three for 13, A. Hall three for 23).