The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Chemplast enters semifinals

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Apr 22, 2004

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Sport - Cricket

Chemplast enters semifinals

CHENNAI, APRIL 21. Chemplast overwhelmed Indian Bank by 60 runs in a quarterfinal match of The Hindu Trophy limited-overs cricket tournament at the IIT-Chemplast ground here on Wednesday.

Riding on Sujith Somasunder's 87 (92b, 5x4, 2x6), Chemplast, opting to bat, made 200 in the allotted 30 overs. Unable to maintain the asking rate, Indian Bank gave in midway and played out the 30 overs losing eight wickets for 140.

Sujith, the 31-year-old former India player, played the sheet anchor role with ease, on occasions he was aggressive too — like the two sixes he hit off left-arm spinner Syed Sabir Pasha and offie S. Balaji.

Sujith and S. Badrinath added 81 runs for the second wicket in 14.3 overs. Ajay N. Kudua made a quick-fire unbeaten 32 (23b, 1x4, 1x6).

Requiring a solid start to make a fight out of it, Indian Bank lost its openers S. Balaji and K.S. Seshadri with the score reading just 14.

Only Pasha, who also represents the Bank team in the National football league, showed some semblance of a fight, making 38 (42b, 1x4, 1x6). First, he swept Badrinath to the boundary and then struck him for a six over long-on.

However, in an attempt to repeat the shot, Pasha skied one to Prashant Chandra at long-on. With Pasha's exit, the score became 76 for five in 16 overs, and Indian Bank's hopes faded.

IOB `A' will play Chemplast and India Cements `A' will clash with India Pistons in the semifinals scheduled on April 23. The final will be played on April 24.

The scores (quarterfinal): Chemplast 200 for four in 30 overs (Sujith Somasunder 87, S. Badrinath 47, Ajay N. Kudua 32 not out) bt Indian Bank 140 for eight in 30 overs (Syed Sabir Pasha 38, K. Srinath 27, J. Ramdas three for 23).

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