India Pistons take firm grip in final

In taking a first innings lead of 73 runs, India Pistons took a firm hold on the Coromandel Cement Trophy at stumps on the second day of their KSCA all India invitation cricket tournament final against Chemplast at the M Chinnaswamy stadium on Wednesday. With the second innings restricted to 40 overs a side, Chemplast face an uphill task in their bid to come back into the game on the final day on Thursday.

Replying to Chemplast's first innings total of 267, compiled on the opening day on Tuesday, India Pistons were given a sound start with openers Anand George and Vikram Rathour putting on 91 runs off 23.4 overs. George was then stumped by TR Arasu off Ramkumar for 33, inclusive of four hits to the ropes.

Rathour and Satyajit Medappa (11) consolidated by adding 40 runs for the second wicket off 13.5 overs before the latter was caught by Arasu off Ganesh Kumar. Rathour, who had dominated the scoring so far, was third out at 162 in the 47th over, edging Ramkumar to Ganesh Kumar at first slip. During his 193-minute stay at the crease, the former India opening batsman hit eight fours and two sixes and faced 143 balls in compiling 93.

With Rathour's dismissal, Chemplast seemed to have recovered some ground. But Hemanth Kumar and Pankaj Dharmani put India Pistons in the driver's seat with a fourth wicket partnership of 77 runs off 19 overs. By the time Hemanth Kumar was out for 59, caught at mid off by Subash Raj off Ramkumar, India Pistons were only 28 runs short of the Chemplast total. Hemanth Kumar faced 121 balls and hit three of them to the fence.

Skipper Robin Singh (2) did not last long. He was run out following a throw from Sandeep Saval in the covers. Sandeep was fielding as substitute for skipper Diwakar Vasu who, being indisposed, did not take the field. But Dharmani and Reuben Paul took India Pistons past the Chemplast total in 78 overs while adding 41 runs for the sixth wicket off 12 overs. Dharmani who came in at the fall of Rathour's wicket, was finally sixth out for 62. He tried a big hit off Dinesh Mongia but could not clear Tinu Yohannan at long off. The Punjab batsman faced 139 balls and hit four boundaries and a six.

The tail made valuable contributions with R Satish, at No 8, making 13 and Shahbuddin, at No 9, scoring 16. Paul got 30 before he was bowled by Mongia. India Pistons got 340 before they were all out in the 90th over. Ramkumar who did the early damage finished with three for 70 while Mongia took four of the last five wickets to fall for 65 runs. This bowling effort came on top of his gallant 123 made on Tuesday.