First Semi Finals : Air India Red prevail over ONGC and make it to the finals

Put into bat, ONGC put up a modest total of 213 in 48.0 overs. ONGC’s innings was built around skipper G Gambhir {63} and V Kohli {46} and their 92 runs stand for the second wicket. G Gamnhir played an useful skipper’s knock and occupied the crease for 99 minutes. He faced 75 deliveries and his knock contained four boundary fours. V Kohli was the aggressive of the two. His essay contained four fours and a six. He was at the crease for 69 minutes and faced 57 deliveries. Their partnership of 92 runs came in 17.5 overs. T Srivastav was the other batsman who scored 29 before he was run out. Barring these three, none of the other ONGC batsmen contributed to their team’s total. DS Kulakarni was the pick of the Air India Red bowlers with a bag of three wickets conceding 40 runs. SN Netravalkar {2 for 38} and M Mangela {2 for 41} were the other bowlers who were amongst the wickets.

The much better bowling attack of ONGC comprising of the present India Internationals – Praveeen Kumar, Munaf Patel, Ishant Sharma, Amit Mishra and former test cricketer Sarandeep Singh held no terrors for Air India Red batsmen as they went past the target with consummate ease. NV Ojha {1}, SK Raina {4} and skipper Yuvraj Singh {6} failed with the willow. RV Uthappa and SH Marathe forged a useful partnership of 94 runs for the second wicket on which Air India Red gained their victory. RV Uthappa at last found his form by scoring 45 runs in 49 deliveries with seven fours. Air India Red were in a spot of bother as they lost their star batsmen – SK Raina and Yuvraj Singh – in quick succession. When the latter was dismissed – who miscued the bouncer by Ishant Sharma and was caught at the wicket – the score board read 123 for four. SK Raina had earlier left the middle – bowled by Sarandeep Singh – going for an expansive drive with head high – with the score card reading 106 for three. HH Kanitkar was the next to leave {148 for five}. AA Chavan partnered SH Marathe and guided to Air India Red to a five wicket win. AA Chavan was enterprising in his approach and hit six fours in his innings of 41 not out. SH Marathe and AA Chavan were concerned in an unfinished stand of 67 runs for the sixth wicket. AA Chavan with his 41 runs was the dominant partner in the sixth wicket stand. Sarandeep Singh was the most successful bowler with a bag of 2 for 36 in ONGC’s ranks.

SH Marathe, promoted to number three, in this game, played a matured innings of 80 not out. He occupied the crease for 181 minutes and faced 106 deliveries. His essay contained eight boundaries. The break up of his 80 not out against each bowler he faced read thus – P Kumar {05 runs – 11 balls}, MM Patel {20 runs – 16 balls}, A Mishra {14 runs – 18 balls}, I Sharma {14 runs – 25 balls}, Sarandeep Singh {25 runs – 34 balls} and T Srivastav {2 runs – 2 balls}.

With this comfortable win Air India Red has reached the finals and will meet – the winners of other semi finals between Air India Blue and Tata Sports Club to be played at Mohali on 06.09.09 – in the finals to be played at Bangalore on 08.06.09.