da dobrowin： Led by a breezy knock by skipper Vikram Rathour, India Pistons pulledoff a sensational two wicket victory over Hyderabad CricketAssociation (HCA) XI in the Coromandel Cement Cup quarterfinal at theGangothri Glades ground in Mysore on Tuesday
Staff Reporter07-Aug-2001Led by a breezy knock by skipper Vikram Rathour, India Pistons pulledoff a sensational two wicket victory over Hyderabad CricketAssociation (HCA) XI in the Coromandel Cement Cup quarterfinal at theGangothri Glades ground in Mysore on Tuesday. Having conceded asizable first innings lead of 89, the Chennai side managed a dramaticturnaround, bundling out HCA XI for just 128 in 35.5 overs. Chasing218 for victory, India Pistons scraped home with just two deliveriesto spare.HCA XI began day three with the score on 30/3. Despite the loss ofwickets, the side from Hyderabad looked well placed, thanks to theirfirst innings lead. The 21-year-old Punjab mediumpacer Vineet Sharmahad different ideas. Taking 5/41 off 15 overs, Sharma reduced the HCAXI innings to shambles. Wickets tumbled at regular intervals withAnirudh Singh (26) being the top scorer.Chasing a challenging 217 off 40 overs, India Pistons began well withRathour and Anand George putting up the 50 partnership for the firstwicket off just 51 balls. Despite the fall of George’s wicket with thescore on 68, Rathour continued on his merry way. Hemant Kumar (21) andS Mahesh (30) batted well around their skipper. Rathour’s 89 (85balls, 7 fours) set up the platform for the victory which eventuallycame amidst much excitement. Narendra Pal Singh and Mohammed Ghousepicked three wickets each but were not able to deny India Pistonsvictory.At the Central college ground in Bangalore, BPL Sports Club concededthe match after Chemplast took the first innings lead.Replying to BPL’s 278, Chemplast resumed at 163 for three. Overnightnot out batsmen Jacob Martin and Ajay Kudua were concerned in a 112-run partnership for the fourth wicket off 30 overs before the latterwas out for 68. Kudua faced 90 balls and hit ten of them to the ropes.Martin was fifth out at 210 for a well compiled 87 for which he battedthree hours. He faced 154 balls and had nine boundary hits. GaneshKumar (4) did not last long and at 217 for six, the game had reached adecisive stage. However J Hariesh (30) and R Ramkumar (47) steeredChemplast to the all important lead with an unbroken seventh wicketpartnership of 67 runs off 12.2 overs. Ramkumar who had taken sevenwickets followed this up by hitting six fours and a six in his brightknock which came up off only 33 balls. Chemplast were 284 for six off80 overs when BPL conceded the game. The day’s play started only at12.30 due to wet conditions following overnight rain.With rain washing out play on the last day at the RSI ground inBangalore, Roofit XI entered the semifinals, getting the better ofKSCA Colts on the first innings lead. At stumps on the second day,Roofit had made 307 for three in 77 overs in reply to KSCA Colts’ 206.Play was called off at 12.45 due to wet conditions caused by overnightrain.Rain also ruled out any play on the final day of the quarterfinalbetween KSCA XI and Oil & Natural Gas Corporation at the MaharajaJayachamarajendra Wodeyar Sports Complex in Bangalore. However, KSCAby virtue of their first innings lead, moved into the last four stage.Play was called off at 12.30 due to wet conditions caused by overnightrain. KSCA had scored 211 and then dismissed ONGC for 136 in the firstinnings. In their second innings at stumps on the second day, KSCAwere 33 for one.In the three day semifinals which commence on Thursday, India Pistonswill meet Roofit XI while KSCA XI play Chemplast.