da dobrowin： A fighting century by Jolly Rovers skipper Ajay Kuduva could notprevent Indian Airlines from making it to the semifinals of the MRF-Buchi Babu invitation tournament
Natarajan Sriram26-Aug-2000A fighting century by Jolly Rovers skipper Ajay Kuduva could notprevent Indian Airlines from making it to the semifinals of the MRF-Buchi Babu invitation tournament. Indian Airlines won their match atthe IIT-Chemplast Ground against Jolly Rovers on Saturday by virtue ofa better run quotient.Resuming at 136 for one on the final day, Jolly Rovers lost SujitSomasundar in the fourth over of the day. Somasundar, who did not adda run to his overnight score of 68, was bowled by Murali Karthik whengoing for an extravagant sweep. Dinesh Mongia (75) then joinedBadrinath and the two forged a useful 93-run partnership for the thirdwicket in 23 overs. Mongia was easily the more aggressive of the two.In a 78-ball essay, he slammed seven boundaries and three mightysixes.But Jolly Rovers lost Mongia before lunch when substitute fielderOnkar Singh at leg slip took the catch when he tried to flick MuraliKarthik. Rovers went to lunch at 256 for three. After the break,Badrinath in the company of Ajay Kuduva took the score along to 294when Badrinath fell to a spectacular catch by VVS Laxman in the slipswhen the latter top edged Murali Karthik. Badrinath’s 85 included fourboundary hits.The fall of Badrinath after a sedate 265-ball innings prompted theIndian Airlines skipper to opt for the new ball and Dodda Ganeshimmediately had Ganesh Kumar (0) caught behind. Pegged on the backfoot, Kuduva battled along with T Arasu till tea by which time thescore was past the 300 run mark. Arasu did not last long and in thesecond over after tea nicked Veenet Jain for a simple catch to Dahiya.The last session saw Indian Airlines gaining the upper hand as Kuduvakept losing his partners at regular intervals. But the brave JollyRovers skipper waged a lone battle in a losing cause. Though he lostRam Kumar (9) and Tinu Youhanan (8), he found a perfect foil in LBalaji and in the last hour of play tore the Indian Airlines attack toshreds reaching his century in no time.But it was an uphill task and Jolly Rovers at the end of the matchwere 458 for eight, finishing 44 runs behind the Indian Airlinestotal. The unbroken ninth wicket partnership between Kuduva and Balajihad added 93 runs off just 13 overs. Kuduva remained unbeaten on 115with the help of 14 crisp hits to the fence. He faced 212 balls.Balaji’s unbeaten 32 was scored off 36 balls with three fours and asix.