Tuesday, Apr 15, 2003
Tuesday, Apr 15, 2003 |
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Cricket
By Our Special Correspondent
Skipper and middle order batsman, Bhavin Thakkar held the Mumbai innings together with a superbly compiled 110 while wickets fell at the other end. Thakkar found an able ally in tail-ender Swapnil Hazare and together they almost saw Mumbai through with an 89-run last wicket partnership. But Thakkar's dream script ended with his dismissal in the fourth mandatory over. Mumbai, chasing Madhya Pradesh's first innings total of 364 was all out for 317 and with hardly nine overs remaining for the day, further play was called off. The third day began on a tantalising note with Mumbai, beginning at 160 for five with Dushyant Kadam on 32 and Thakkar on 26. The sixth wicket pair prospered for a while before a well-set Kadam top-edged and was caught at point off Golwalkar for 47 (118m, 84b, 8x4). His stand with Thakkar yielded 74 runs and with six down for 188, Mumbai was in for a long haul. And the position worsened with leg spinner and MP skipper Golwalkar picking up quick wickets. Harshad Rawle (5), Mussaveer Khote (24) and Rajesh Verma (0) fell quickly and at lunch Mumbai was tottering at 228 for nine. Then came the rearguard action by Thakkar and Swapnil Hazare, who showed a lot of application, while Thakkar led the way. Thakkar picked his runs in a methodical manner and shortly before tea, posted a well-deserved century when he cut Kokje to the fence. Mumbai went to tea at 305 for nine. As Mumbai inched towards the target in the mandatory overs, it looked as though it would end the dramatic chase for the first innings lead on a triumphant note but that was not to be as Thakkar edged Kokje to 'keeper Rahul Bakshi. Thakkar walked back to a tremendous applause from his team-mates and his rivals. Thakkar's marathon effort lasted 421 minutes, 311 balls and contained 15 fours. Swampnil Hazare stayed unbeaten on 20 (179m, 128b 2x4). For Thakkar, it was his second century of the championship having scored one earlier against Baroda in the zonal phase. If only the Mumbai top order had showed the same application and grit, the match certainly would have ended on a different note. There was not much of purchase for the medium pacers on the this good batting track, but the spinners Golwalkar and Kokje, who kept pegging away relentlessly, claimed bowling honours with Kokje claiming four for 76 runs while Golwalkar claimed three for 87. In the semifinals, Madhya Pradesh meets Punjab (North Zone winner) while Tamil Nadu (South Zone champion) takes on Bihar (East Zone winner) at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium and WAP grounds respectively from April 16 to 18. The scores: Madhya Pradesh 364 drew with Mumbai 317 in 131 overs (Pushkaraj Jadhav 41, Dushyant Kadam 47, Bhavin Thakkar 110, Amol Kokje four for 76, Yogesh Golwalkar three for 87). MP qualified on first innings lead.
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