The Hindu : Sport : Tendulkar takes India Blue to big win

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Tuesday, Oct 03, 2006
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Tendulkar takes India Blue to big win

S. Dinakar

PHOTO: S.R. RAGHUNATHAN

BACK TO HIS BEST: Sachin Tendulkar reverse sweeps his way to an entertaining 139 during the match between India Blue and India Green at the MAC Stadium in Chennai on Monday.

CHENNAI: Sachin Tendulkar blazed away, his mind and body in perfect harmony. His footwork was precise, timing brilliant. And, the runs flowed from his willow at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium here on Monday.

After suffering a stunning loss at the hands of India Red on Sunday, India Blue responded with a 266-run win over India Green in the second game of the N.K.P. Salve Challenger Series. Chasing 382, India Green was dismissed for 115 in just 26.4 overs. Blue got a bonus point for its effort.

Munaf Patel bowled a zestful spell, scalping openers Wasim Jaffer and Sourav Ganguly, both well held at point by Ravindra Jadeja. The former India captain appeared in good touch, but could not consolidate.

Then, off-spinner Harbhajan Singh and left-arm paceman Irfan Pathan made major inroads. Harbhajan bowled a teasing off-stump line, Pathan landed more deliveries in the right areas. They were also helped by some reckless strokeplay and a few outstanding catches in the deep.

Pursuing a daunting target, India Green crumbled under pressure. Parthiv Patel (43, 38b, 8x4) alone offered a measure of resistance after Mohammed Kaif and Suresh Raina departed early.

Earlier, Tendulkar (139, 100b, 20x4, 4x6) predictably led the Blue onslaught. Skipper Rahul Dravid (62, 63b, 2x4, 3x6) and Mahendra Singh Dhoni (79 not out, 59b, 6x4, 4x6), both searching for form, were among the runs, which is good news from an Indian perspective.

Circumstances had forced Tendulkar to play — it had earlier been decided that he would be rested for the opener — the first game following the withdrawal of the injured V.V.S. Laxman. Wasim Jaffer, originally a part of the Blue side, was drafted into Green. Subsequently, Tendulkar opened for India Blue against India Red and stroked with panache.

Tanmay falls cheaply

He had a young opening partner in Tanmay Srivatsav after India Blue elected to bat. Srivatsav was inducted from Green in place of Virender Sehwag, who had twisted his ankle while turning for a run on Sunday.

Delhi batsman Mithun Minhas, in turn, was added to the Green squad.

Srivatsav was snared by Lakshmipathy Balaji in the slips before scoring, but Tendulkar was not bothered. He pierced the gaps with ridiculous ease, lofted over the infield, dumped balls into the stands.

He found a willing partner in Irfan Pathan. The left-hander, who surfaced at No. 3, stroked confidently during his 55-ball 54 (4x4, 3x6). The duo added 130 for the second wicket in 103 balls.

Balaji and left-armer Aashish Nehra — both returning from injuries — had a mixed evening. Balaji bowled to a good rhythm initially before being taken for runs. Nehra appeared a touch rusty and needs to bowl more.

No mercy for bowlers

Pathan was picked up in the deep off leg-spinner Piyush Chawla, but Tendulkar, dancing down the pitch to both pacemen and spinners, continued to stroke with shots of power and precision, to the delight of the crowd.

His 50 consumed 43 deliveries and blasted to his second fifty in only 26 balls. He toyed with the attack; his fitness concerns were a distant memory.

On a surface of consistent bounce, the India Green bowling suffered. There was none who could hit the deck in the manner the big and strong V.R.V. Singh had accomplished on Sunday.

The medium pace of Praveen Kumar, who conceded 21 runs in an over, appeared no more than ordinary. Leggie Chawla went for 21 runs in his first over, but settled down to give a better account of himself. Interestingly, Ganguly's none for 23 off five overs of medium pace was the most economical piece of bowling in the Green attack.

Dhoni cut loose towards the end. But the innings belonged to Tendulkar.

The scores:

India Blue: T. Srivatsav c Jaffer b Balaji 0, S. Tendulkar c Kaif b Lahiri 139, I. Pathan c Lahiri b Chawla 54, R. Dravid c Praveen Kumar b Nehra 62, M.S. Dhoni (not out) 79, Yuvraj Singh c Chawla b P. Kumar 19, D. Mongia c Kaif b Balaji 1, A. Agarkar (not out) 17; Extras (b-1, nb-4, w-5): 10. Total (for six wks. in 50 overs): 381.

Fall of wickets: 1-2, 2-132, 3-222, 4-286, 5-326, 6-328.

India Green bowling: Balaji 8-0-62-2, Nehra 10-0-67-1, Praveen 9-1-77-1, Chawla 6-1-39-1, Badani 4-0-44-0, Ganguly 5-0-23-0, Lahiri 8-0-68-1.

India Green: W. Jaffer c sub (R. Jadeja) b Patel 12, S. Ganguly c sub (R. Jadeja) b Patel 24, P. Patel c Dhoni b Harbhajan 43, S. Raina c Harbhajan b Pathan 0, Md. Kaif c Mongia b Pathan 0, H. Badani c Agarkar b Mongia 20, P. Kumar st Dhoni b Harbhajan 0, S. Lahiri (run out) 2, P. Chawla c Munaf b Harbhajan 2, L. Balaji (not out) 5, A. Nehra c Yuvraj b Harbhajan 0; Extras (lb-2, nb-1, w-4): 7. Total (all out in 26.4 overs) 115.

Fall of wickets: 1-31, 2-48, 3-52, 4-55, 5-88, 6-88, 7-91, 8-100, 9-111.

India Blue bowling: Agarkar 5-0-33-0, Patel 5-1-15-2, R.P. Singh 4-0-23-0, Pathan 7-0-24-2, Harbhajan 4.4-1-10-4, Mongia 1-0-8-1.

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