The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : BSNL, Air India (Red) share points

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BSNL, Air India (Red) share points

Principal Correspondent

Both teams will have to win against India Cements to stay in contention

— Photo: K. Bhagya Prakash

Arindam Das’s knock of 82 was the highlight of the rain-marred tie between of BSNL and Air India (Red).

Bangalore: Rains threw a damp curtain on the Sahara BCCI Corporate Trophy tournament’s Group D match at the Chinnaswamy Stadium here on Tuesday night.

Chasing BSNL’s 258 for seven in 50 overs, Air India (Red) scored 16 for one in 2.5 overs when a steady drizzle gained strength and curtailed the match.

Both teams eked out two points each and will have to win their respective matches against India Cements to stay in contention for a semifinal berth.

Early set-back

Air India’s chase under lights suffered a false start as, in the very first delivery, opener Naman Ojha was caught behind off BSNL skipper Joginder Singh. Robin Uthappa and Suresh Raina then began to rebuild and revive the chase when the skies opened up at 6.40 p.m., and continued right through, forcing umpires Shavir Tarapore and Siva Ravi to call off the match at 8.52 p.m.

Earlier, after Air India (R) skipper Yuvraj Singh won the toss and opted to field, BSNL’s openers B.B.C.C. Mahapatra (41) and Arindam Das (82, 107b, 9x4) put on a 70-run partnership in 13.1 overs.

Arindam flicked and drove Dhawal Kulkarni while Mahapatra relished the half-volleys dished out by left arm spinner Ankeet Chavan.

A reprieve

Mahapatra enjoyed a reprieve when Yuvraj dropped him on 26 off Ankeet and he soon struck a celebratory six into the press box.

After Mahapatra was out slashing, Arindam strung a 90-run second-wicket partnership with Varun Kumar (49).

A fluent Arindam also displayed finesse, which was evident in a late cut off Suresh Raina but he holed out in the power play and BSNL lost the plot despite skipper Joginder Singh’s lusty blows as wickets tumbled around him.

The scores: BSNL 258 for seven in 50 overs (Arindam Das 82, Varun Kumar 49, B.B.C.C. Mahapatra 41, Niranjan Behera 29, Joginder Singh 27) vs Air India (R) 16 for one in 2.5 overs.

Wednesdays match: India Cements vs BSNL.

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