Robin leads the way as Pistons knock out Cements

India Pistons set up a title showdown with Chemplast in the Moin ud Dowlah Cup in Hyderabad on Sunday with a comfortable 49 run win over India Cements. In the semifinal clash at the Gymkhana ground, Pistons were dug out of a hole by the familiar crisis man Robin Singh who shepherded the lower order to 218 with a priceless unbeaten 80. In reply, Cements were never in the running, losing wickets at close intervals and it was only a lone hand of 77 by Sunil Oasis which helped them to 169.

In the morning, Tamil Nadu seamer J Gokulakrishnan bowled an incisive first spell of 5-0-26-3 to leave Pistons reeling at 33/3 after having been put in to bat. Vikram Rathour and JR Madanagopal restored some order with a battling 44-run stand before both fell in the space of two runs to leave Pistons in grave peril at 79/5. Pistons were missing Reetinder Sodhi for this vital game, the Punjab youngster having fallen ill after yesterday's game and flown back home.

Robin was thus the last hope and he responded with the typical gusto of a man who thrives under the challenge of a pressure cooker situation. Two more partners left him along the line after brief shows of solidarity to leave Pistons at 135/7. But although No's 9, 10 and 11 made precisely 13 runs between them, they helped Robin add 83 for the last three wickets with the skipper running out of partners after making 80 in 90 balls inclusive of six fours. Gokul finished top of the pack among the Cements attack with figures of 4/46.

Robin led with the way with the ball too, dismissing Jesu Babu with his first delivery. The other opener VB Chandrasekhar was not his usual aggressive self, hanging around for 43 balls to make 19 before leg spinner Balaji Rao dismissed him. Balaji Rao delivered another telling blow by removing S Sharath for three and at 61/5, Cements were in dire straits. Left arm spinner Satyajit Medappa then stepped in and cleaned up the tail in spite of Oasis' heroics. The Kerala Ranji player was last out for 77 (106 balls, 6 fours, 3 sixes) as Cements folded up ignominiously for 169 with 14 balls to spare.