The Hindu : MAC-TNCA XI squeaks through

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Aug 23, 2002

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Sport - Cricket

MAC-TNCA XI squeaks through

CHENNAI Aug. 22. Three sides from Tamil Nadu — MAC-TNCA XI, TNCA President's XI and Combined Districts — entered the semifinals of the Sahara-Buchi Babu all-India invitation cricket tournament, here, on Thursday. They joined Indian Airlines, that had already made it to the last four stage.

In the semifinal duels, beginning on Saturday, MAC-TNCA XI will take on the Districts outfit, while TNCA president's XI meets Indian Airlines.

Coming to individual performances, the TNCA president's XI paceman C. Ganapathy hogged the limelight, running through an inexperienced Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) line-up in a destructive spell of 12.5-1-42-6, while another young seamer, Districts' D. Tamilkumaran (four for 33) fired out the top four Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) batsmen at SRMC.

At SPIC-YMCA, Ganapathy's heroics meant MCA was skittled out for 73 in just 25.5 overs. The TNCA president's XI, that enjoyed an 81-run lead in the first essay, thus romped home by an innings and eight runs.

The competition was much stiffer at ICL-Guru Nanak, but MAC-TNCA XI held its nerve to win by five wickets with four deliveries to spare against ONGC.

ONGC, trailing by 25, came up with a spirited response in the second innings, rattling up 235 for nine in 45 overs, thanks to half centuries from Rizwan Shamshad (50, 55b, 6 x 4) and Sunil Joshi (55 not out, 5 x 4, 1 x 6), apart from Manoj Mudgal's 44.

Set a target of 211 in 45 overs, MAC-TNCA XI was well served by the left-handed S. Sriram (78, 92b, 7 x 4, 1 x 6) and S. Sharath (56 not out, 68b, 2 x 4, 1 x 6). Another southpaw, opener Sadagopan Ramesh chipped in with 37.

Sriram and Sharath raised 75 for the fourth wicket in 14.3 overs, while, during a stage when the home side was at a slightly worrying 170 for four in 36.5 overs, the latter along with R. Ramkumar (15) added 39 in 6.5 overs, that took MAC-TNCA XI to the brink of victory. Sharath, who has scores of 101, 75 and 56 not out in the tournament so far, ended the match with a rasping square-cut off the second ball of the 45th over.

At SRMC, Combined Districts continued its fine run overcoming CAB by 91 runs. Districts had already taken a strong Hyderabad CA in its stride.

Leading by 30 runs, Districts, with timely contributions from K.C. Dilip Sarathy (51, 45b, 9 x 4), S. Raghunath (56, 88b, 1 x 6, 3 x 4) and S. Vasanth Saravanan (50, 57b, 2 x 6, 2 x 4) reached 235 for eight, setting CAB a daunting 266 for a victory in 45 overs.

Tamilkumaran then took centrestage. His productive early burst saw CAB struggling at 33 for four. A. Basu (34) and S. Ganguly (65, 104b, 3x4) enabled CAB reach 174, but the visitors still lost the encounter by a mile. Leg-spinner B. Karthikeyan made his presence felt, claiming two wickets without conceding a run.

The scores (quarterfinals):

At SPIC-YMCA: MCA 215 & 73 in 25.5 overs (C. Ganapathy six for 42) lost to TNCA President's XI 296.

At ICL-Guru Nanak: ONGC 270 & 235 for nine in 45 overs (Sandeep Sharma 25, Manoj Mudgal 44, Rizwan Shamshad 50, Sunil Joshi 55 not out) lost to MAC-TNCA XI 295 for nine & 213 for five in 44.2 overs (S. Ramesh 37, S. Sriram 78, S. Sharath 56 not out).

At SRMC: Combined Districts 273 & 235 for eight in 45 overs (Dilip Sarathy 51, S. Raghunath 56, S. Vasanth Saravanan 50, Sourashish Lahiri three for 54) bt CAB 243 & 174 in 43.1 overs (A. Basu 34, S. Ganguly 65, D. Tamilkumaran four for 33).

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