Kaif dazzles, but India Seniors scrape through

Despite an entertaining 90 by Mohammad Kaif, the India Seniors team edged past India B by six wickets with eleven deliveries to spare in the Challenger Trophy at Ahmedabad on Friday night.

Batting first, the India B team put up a much better show than the India A team had the previous day. Kaif enjoyed a good run of form throughout the recently concluded Under-19 World Cup, but could not make a big score there. On Friday however, there was no stopping him as he shared a 115-run partnership with captain Ajay Jadeja and saw India B through to a score of 274 off their allotted 50 overs. Jadeja was his innovative self and made a half century in quick time.

When Kaif tried to push the scoring rate towards the end of the innings, he fell just 10 runs short of the century mark. Robin Singh got a ball to stop on Kaif and the youngster went through with his shot. The ball skied up in the air and Nikhil Chopra pouched the catch.

Nikhil Haldipur made a useful fifty at the top of the innings but probably did not do enough to stake a claim for selection.

Although India B lost quick wickets towards the end, it was of no consequence as they still managed a challenging total.

The India seniors bowlers took some stick from Kaif. The spearhead of the Indian bowling attack Anil Kumble went for 57 runs off his 10 overs.

In response, the Indian senior team went about the job with a rarely displayed air of professionalism. Shiv Sunder Das coming off a good knock in the previous match fell quickly. After he was dismissed, VVS Laxman and pinch hitter Sunil Joshi took the attack to the bowlers. Joshi's quickfire 16 included a four and a six. Reetinder Singh Sodhi pulled off yet another bit of good fielding as he lunged low and took a sharp return catch to dismiss Joshi.

Rahul Dravid then got into a good rhythm and kept the scoring going. He was joined by Vinod Kambli at the fall of Laxman's wicket. The resurgence of Kambli's career took yet another positive turn as the Mumbai southpaw made a solid unbeaten 78. When Dravid too was dismissed, the required rate was mounting and Robin Singh used the long handle to good effect. Some surprising bowling changes by Ajay Jadeja proved costly. Jadeja brought Dodda Ganesh and himself on at the death and they conceded 12 and 17 runs off their overs respectively.

The experience of Singh and Kambli saw the seniors through to victory with not much to spare. This victory means that the seniors have qualified for the final. On Saturday, the lesser teams of the tournament will clash and that will decide who takes on the seniors in the title clash.