da poker： South Zone’s victory over Central Zone was achieved with only twodeliveries to spare
Partab Ramchand28-Jan-2000South Zone’s victory over Central Zone was achieved with only twodeliveries to spare. Put in to bat, Central Zone were given anexcellent start with openers Jyoti Yadav (76) and Gagan Khoda (69)putting on 147 runs off 31.2 overs. But they were pegged back a bitwhen they lost two wickets in one over. First, Yadav was stumped byReuben Paul off left arm spinner S Sriram. He faced 97 balls and hiteight fours. Four balls later, Jaiprakash Yadav was run out for zero.When Khoda was caught by Azharuddin off Aashish Kapoor in the 35thover, Central Zone at 155 for three, had lost much of the momentumgiven by the opening pair. Khoda faced 100 balls and hit eightfours. But Central Zone’s hopes of putting together a challengingtotal were revived by a fourth wicket partnership of 115 runs off 15.3overs between Amay Khurasia and D Bundela. It was not until the lastover that the partnership was broken with Khurasia caught byAzharuddin off Kumaran for 67. Batting aggressively, he compiled hisruns off only 54 balls, with the help of four fours and threesixes. Bundela at the end remained unbeaten with 48 off 47 balls,inclusive of a six and a four as Central Zone did finally get to theirobjective of posting a challenging total – 272 for five off 50 overs.South Zone’s in form openers J Arun Kumar and S Mahesh started off inbright fashion putting on 29 runs from four overs. But HS Sodhi rockedSouth Zone by dismissing both of them in the space of threedeliveries. The fall of A Nandakishore at 49 was another blow. ButSouth Zone were set back on course with Md Azharuddin and S Sarathadding 120 runs for the fourth wicket off 27.4 overs. Pradeep Gandhethen brought Central Zone back into the favourites circle bydismissing Azharuddin and Sriram in the same over. Azharuddin hit 64off 91 balls with the help of four fours and a six. But at 170 forfive after 36 overs, South Zone’s hopes had received a setback.Sarath and Reuben Paul then got together for the sixth wicket andtheir breezy partnership of 78 runs off 11 overs brought South Zoneroaring back into the game. When Paul was out for 31 off 32 balls,South Zone were 248 for six after 47 overs. In three overs, theyrequired 25 runs.As the match entered the `home stretch’ the left handed Sarathcontinued to bat courageously before he was run out in the 49th overfor 113. The Tamil Nadu left hander faced 134 balls and hit 10 foursand two sixes. South Zone, which required 15 runs off the last overs,brought the target down to four off the last over. Off the second ballof the last over, bowled by Gyanandrey Pandey, S Nair was bowled andSouth Zone had lost eight wickets. New batsman T Kumaran hit the firstball he faced for two runs to level the scores and then slammed aboundary off the next to signal South Zone’s thrilling victory.Kapoor was the other not out batsman with eight. Sodhi finished as themost successful bowler with three for 67 while Gandhe took two for 44.