da pinup bet： Shrugging off the reverse against North Zone, West Zone bounced backinto contention with a remarkable six wicket victory over South ZoneIn the Deodhar Trophy league match at the Municipal stadium in Rajkoton Saturday
Partab Ramchand22-Jan-2000Shrugging off the reverse against North Zone, West Zone bounced backinto contention with a remarkable six wicket victory over South ZoneIn the Deodhar Trophy league match at the Municipal stadium in Rajkoton Saturday.It was another of those typical high scoring games played on goodbatting tracks. As many as 637 runs were scored for the loss of only12 wickets off 97.5 overs. Replying to South Zone’s 317 for eight in50 overs, West Zone raced to victory for the loss of only four wicketswith 2.1 overs to spare.Vinod Kambli’s second successive century in the competition was themain highlight of the match. The 28-year-old left hander, ignored bythe national selectors was again in his elements, rattling up anunbeaten 119 off just 103 balls with ten fours and three sixes. Unlikelast time when his century failed to prevent a North Zone victory,this time his effort was crowned with success.Kambli received admirable support from Amol Muzumdar. The Mumbaicaptain also hit a fine hundred, matching Kambli in strokes and runproduction as the two made a West Zone victory almost certain byadding 226 runs for the third wicket off only 33.2 overs. They hadcome together in the tenth over after West Zone had lost two wicketsfor 64. Actually openers Sitanshu Kotak (31) and ND Modi (20) gaveWest Zone a fine start by putting on 60 runs off 8.4 overs but theyfell in successive overs.By the time Muzumdar was run out in the 43rd over for 109, for whichhe faced 108 balls and hit ten fours, West Zone were well on their wayto victory. And even though the in form AV Kale was bowled by Kumaranfor five, Kambli and skipper Nayan Mongia (18 not out off 15 balls)saw West Zone home quite comfortably.Earlier a fine 120 by the consistent Karnataka opening batsman J ArunKumar saw South Zone post what seemed to be a winning total. After ANandakishore was out at 26 in the sixth over, Arun Kumar and S Maheshgave the South Zone innings a terrific impetus by adding 159 runs forthe second wicket off just 21.3 overs. Mahesh, known to really beltthe ball, lived up to his reputation by scoring 85 off 74 balls withnine fours and two sixes. The middle order however could not buildupon this excellent start. Arun Kumar himself was sixth out at 260 inthe 42nd over. He faced 121 balls and hit 13 fours and two sixes tomaintain his fine form displayed during the season. The tail also didnot contribute much and it was left to Reuben Paul, with some fluentstrokes, to push the score past the 300 mark. The wicket keeper fromTamil Nadu hit a timely unbeaten 42 off 30 balls with two fours andtwo sixes.