MRF in command against Associate Banks

MRF were in a position of considerable strength when bad light stopped play about an hour before the scheduled close on the second day of their Buchi Babu all India invitation tournament pre-quarterfinal against All India Associate Banks at the MAC stadium in Chennai on Monday.

Resuming at 320 for five, MRF declared their first innings at 490 for nine. Associate Banks were 84 for three when play was first suspended and then abandoned for the day.

Tanveer Jabbar, 110 not out overnight, scored only four more runs before being dismissed. But N Gautam and the later order batsmen prolonged the bank team's agony. Skipper M Senthilnathan, himself no mean batsman at one time, came in at No 8 and and scored 14, helping Gautam to add 27 runs for the seventh wicket. Then Gautam and Test left arm spin bowler Venkatpathi Raju (21) were associated in an eighth wicket partnership of 49 runs off 11 overs. Finally, Gautam and Zaheer Khan put a tired and dispirited attack to the sword by adding 90 runs for the ninth wicket off 20.2 overs. Gautam, who batted a shade under three hours was then caught by Akhil off Sridhar for 83. He faced 121 balls and hit five fours and three sixes. Zaheer remained unbeaten on 43, scored off 66 balls. He hit four fours and two sixes. The innings was declared when Gautam was out.

If Associate Banks were to pose a serious challenge to MRF's total, a good start was imperative. But they never got it. Opener CP Sahu (12) slipped while trying for a single and was run out by a direct hit from Kanitkar at point. Daniel Manohar and Devendra Bundela battled along but batting was generally a struggle. Finally Manohar who batted almost two hours for 27, was caught by Raju off Gautam.

Pankaj Dharmani decided a counter attack was the best method and quickly hit two boundaries. He then lifted the first ball off an Aashish Kapoor over high into the stands on the pavilion terrace. The former Indian off spinner however kept him guessing for the rest of the over and then off the last ball had him edging a quicker one to MSK Prasad behind the stumps. Dharmani's 17 came up off only 23 balls.

Hardly had VST Naidu joined Bundela when the light worsened and the players came off. Bundela has so far batted 102 minutes and faced 62 deliveries for his 12. It goes without saying that Associate Banks face a herculean task to overhaul the MRF total on the morrow.