Date:20/11/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/20/stories/2008112056442000.htm

Sport - Cricket

Sambasiva scores second century

Principal Correspondent

PALAKKAD: Sambasiva Sarma showed commendable temperament for the second time in four days, becoming the first batsman to score a hundred in both innings of a Ranji Trophy match for Kerala, as he helped the host to draw the Plate Group ‘A’ match against Haryana at the Fort Maidan on Wednesday.

Kerala, which had conceded a first innings lead of 247, was 236 for two when the teams agreed to bring an early close to match as a decisive result was not possible.

Sambasiva was batting on 111 (351 min, 262 b, 17x4) when the stumps were drawn for the last time.

He was, of course, delighted at his record.

Ample support

Sambasiva was given ample support by the others in the top-order as Kerala, which resumed at 36 for no loss, got its partnerships going to dash the hopes of an outright win for the visiting side.

He put on 92 for the first wicket with Raiphy Vincent Gomez (22), 51 for the second with V.A. Jagadeesh (25) and 93 for the unbroken third with Sreekumar Nair (46 not out).

Haryana captain and India leg-spinner Amit Mishra took both the wickets.

Haryana gets three points from this match for the first innings lead and Kerala one. Haryana has taken its tally to nine points while Kerala has four.

After three rounds of matches, Himachal Pradesh leads Group `A’ with 16 points, followed by Goa (11) and Haryana.

Haryana coach Amarjeet Kaypee said it was difficult to win for any team on such a dead wicket.

“We are glad that we could get at least three points from this match,” he said.

Meanwhile, Kerala has retained the same squad for its next match, against Jammu & Kashmir, starting here on November 29.

The scores: Kerala — 1st Innings: 334.

Haryana — 1st Innings: 581 for four declared.

Kerala — 2nd Innings: Raiphy Vincent Gomez b Mishra 22, Sambasiva Sarma (not out) 111, V.A. Jagadeesh c Saini b Mishra 25, Sreekumar Nair (not out) 46, Extras (b-8, lb-7, nb-16, w-1) 32; Total (for two wickets in 85 overs) 236.

Fall of wickets: 1-92, 2-143.

Haryana bowling: Billa 10-2-34-0, Budwar10-1-54-0, Mishra 26-8-30-2,Vashisht 16-5-32-0, Rana 7-4-16-0, Lavasa 5-2-20-0, Sunny 5-1-15-0, Dhruv 6-2-20-0.

Kerala squad for match against J&K: Sony K. Cheruvathur (captain), Raiphy Vincent Gomez, Sreekumar Nair, V.A. Jagadeesh, Robert Fernandez, Rohan Prem, Vinan G.Nair, Tinu Yohannan, Prasanth Chandran, P. Prasanth, Sebastian Antony, K.J. Rakesh, M.E. Sanuth, Sambasiva Sharma and K. Anil Kumar.