The Hindu : Sport : Cairns, Hall guide Lions home

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Sunday, Dec 16, 2007
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Cairns, Hall guide Lions home

Vijay Lokapally

Sudhindra’s all-round display in vain for Delhi Jets

— Photo: Akhilesh Kumar

FOXED: Dinesh Mongia of Chandigarh Lions rejoices with wicketkeeper Sarabjeet Singh after dismissing Delhi Jets skipper Marvan Atapattu.

PANCHKULA: Chris Cairns and Andrew Hall dealt heavy blows to Delhi Jets’s ambitions to make it to the final of the Indian Cricket League here.

In a last-over finish, these two recognized professionals carried Chandigarh Lions through with a priceless stand that left Delhi stranded after coming close to pulling it off.

Delhi Jets, without Paul Nixon and Taufiq Umar, did not fire after electing to bat and the bowlers struggled to strike a decent line and length.

It was always going to be tough, given the form of Imran Farhat but a minor collapse brought excitement into the game. Lions won by four wickets to set up a title clash on Sunday with Chennai Superstars.

Brilliant

T. P. Sudhindra, a 24-year-old from Hindupur in Andhra Pradesh, kept Delhi Jets in the race with his all-round brilliance. He shone with the bat and then came up with an inspiring spell of three wickets, including the important one of T. P. Singh from a sensational return catch.

Chandigarh Lions remained on course despite losing three quick wickets. Dinesh Mongia (22) and Manish Sharma (19) threatened to take the game away but Ali Murtaza and Abid Nabi struck to signify Delhi’s intensity to make the opposition earn every run.

In the end, Cairns (26 not out) and Hall (20 not out) settled the issue with some firm blows.

The match did not meet the expectations of a packed audience that braved the cold weather. The pitch may not have been the best surface to allow the batsmen to thrive but Delhi Jets was guilty of trying to force the pace too early.

“Twenty20 is not just about hitting every ball,” was how Craig McMillan had assessed a few days ago. If only the Jets’ batsmen had remembered his words.

Steady approach

S. Abbas Ali and Sudhindra pepped up the Delhi Jets innings with a steady approach that stemmed from the intensity that has marked their cricket in this tournament.

Abbas has always been a strokeplayer with a wide range and the responsibility thrust upon him from the early exit of Minish Mishra and Marwan Atapattu brought the best out of this former Madhya Pradesh batsman.

Mishra fell to Andrew Hall and Atapattu, after two silken drives, became a victim of Dinesh Mongia’s guiles. It was an important strike by Mongia because Atapaatu looked in imperious touch until he was foxed.

Dale Benkenstein kept up the tempo with some robust shots and his 45-run stand with Abbas gave the Jets hopes of raising a fighting total.

Superb knock

Abbas carried the team on his shoulders with a superb knock — 57 off 40 balls with four sixes and two fours. It was just the kind of innings that his team expected of Abbas. “I always found him a committed player,” said coach Madan Lal.

Support from T. P. Sudhindra saw the partnership grow at a rapid pace — 59 runs off 35 balls. Sudhindra’s stroke-making ability came in handy at this crucial stage for the Jets. He chipped in runs that enabled his team set Chandigarh a target of 149. Sloppy work by the Jets fielders allowed Lions to plan the chase. The batsmen could dictate as the bowlers erred. Chandigarh Lions was the better side this cold night at the Tau Devi Lal Stadium.

The scores: Delhi Jets 148 for four in 20 overs (S. Abbas Ali 57, T. P. Sudhindra 33 not out) lost to Chandigarh Lions 151 for six in 19.4 overs (T. P. Sudhindra three for 27).

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