The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Alind Naidu's century sees Vidarbha through

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Sunday, Aug 21, 2005

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Alind Naidu's century sees Vidarbha through

Special Correspondent

CHENNAI: Leading from the front with an undefeated 109, skipper Alind Naidu guided Vidarbha to a six-wicket victory over Jharkhand on the concluding day of their three-day Group-D clash in the Mindteck-Buchi Babu all-India invitation cricket tournament at the SPIC-YMCA ground here on Saturday.

Chasing 218 for victory from the allotted 45 overs, Vidarbha was struggling at three for 50 when Faiz Fazal and Manish Guddawar were dismissed in quick succession.

The former was held by Jha at mid-on while playing mediumpacer Mihir Diwakar across the line, and Jha caught Guddawar short of the crease at the bowler's end with a direct hit from extra-cover.

Crucial stand

But Jharkhand failed to exert pressure, as Naidu (103b, 8x4) and Salabh Srivatsav (52, 67b, 3x4) turned the contest on its head with a 136-run stand in 22 overs for the fourth wicket. Naidu had a reprieve when on 79, but the side was coasting to victory by then.

Maharashtra posts win

In a Group-B contest at the SRMC-turf ground, Maharashtra squeaked past Rajasthan by five runs.

The stand of 168 from 27.2 overs between Vineet Saxena (92, 100b, 2x6, 3x4) and Nikhil Doru (84, 84b, 2x4) saw Rajasthan need 16 for victory off 19 balls with eight wickets in hand.

But Saxena's dismissal, run out by Abhishek Raut, set off a collapse, as the team lost five wickets in the space of 18 deliveries for the addition of 10 runs.

The third-round matches commence on Monday.

The scores:

Maharashtra 272 & 154 in 44.5 overs (Nikhil Paradkar 55, Sumit Chavan 55) bt Rajasthan 188 & 233 for seven in 45 overs (Vineet Saxena 92, Nikhil Doru 84). Points: Maharashtra 8; Rajasthan 0.

Jharkhand 278 & 191 in 41.4 overs (C.M. Jha 40, Akshay Wakre five for 70) lost to Vidarbha 252 & 221 for four in 40.4 overs (Alind Naidu 109 not out, Salabh Srivatsav 52). Points: Vidarbha 8; Jharkhand 0.

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