Date:16/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/16/stories/2008121660051600.htm

Sport - Cricket

Mumbai to play Punjab in final

KOLKATA: Mumbai will play Punjab in the final of the Col. C.K. Nayudu Trophy (under-22) cricket tournament.

In the semifinals on Monday, Mumbai defeated Bengal by 104 runs, while Punjab sprang a surprise by getting the better of Baroda by 20 runs. The four-day final will begin on Thursday.

Punjab’s showed enough resilience and gumption in its narrow victory over Baroda at the JU Salt Lake ground. Having conceded the first innings lead, Punjab did not do well in the second innings getting all out for 190. Baroda needed 101 to win but Punjab medium-pacer Harmeet Singh had other ideas as he ran through the cream of Baroda batting to pick up five for 41 to ensure his team won by 20 runs.

Bengal managed to dismiss Mumbai in the second innings for 128 in 57 overs thanks to its star bowlers, Nilkantha Das (four for 49) and Md. Ashrafuddin (four for 26).

The target of 276 in 74 overs proved too much for Bengal. Skipper Arindam Ghosh (34), Debabrata Das (33) and Md. Azaz Ansari (36) put up some resistance before Balwinder Singh Sandhu Jr. (three for 46) and left-arm spinner Iqbal Abdullah (five for 56) ensured Mumbai won the semifinal by 104 runs.

The scores: Mumbai 353 & 128 (Nilkantha Das four for 49, Md. Ashrafuddin four for 26) bt Bengal 206 & 171 (Arindam Ghosh 34, Debabrata Das 33, Azaz Ansari 36, Balwinder Singh Sandhu Jr. three for 46, Iqbal Abdullah five for 56).

Punjab 249 & 190 bt Baroda 339 for nine decl. & 80 in 38.1 overs (Anupam Gupta 32, Harmeet Singh five for 41).