Robin Singh delights as southpaws canter to victory

In a high scoring game played between India's left-handed and righthanded cricketers at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, the left-handed XI captained by Robin Singh won in a canter with 6 wickets and nearly 12 overs to spare. The match was a benefit game for ex-Mumbai wicketkeeper batsman Sulakshan Kulkarni and also the Timex Challenge.

Sourav Ganguly, who was supposed to lead the southpaws' XI, disappointed fans who were eagerly expecting a clash between Ganguly and Tendulkar who were to have led the two sides. Robin Singh, who stepped in to fill the breach, won the toss and elected to field. Certainly a decision which brought lots of cheers to the medium-sized crowd for it meant that Sachin Tendulkar would be out in the centre early in the day.

Shiv Sundar Das and Tendulkar opened the batting for the righthanders. Das was his usual solid self while Tendulkar blazed away at the opposite end. Tendulkar singled out Mumbai left-arm seamer Sandeep Dahad for punishment early on, hitting him for three boundaries each, in two overs. The two put on 126 runs for the 1st wicket in just over 15 overs before Das was runout for a neatly compiled 49 due to a smart piece of glovework by Vinod Kambli, who kept wickets for the lefthanders XI.

Das was replaced by the in-form VVS Laxman who settled into a good rhythm early on. Tendulkar then went on to register his second century at the Wankhede Stadium in as many days. It must be remembered that the little master made a ton on Saturday, 28 April 2001 at yet another benefit match. Tendulkar took just 68 balls to reach the landmark with 14 boundaries and two huge sixes. Having scored his century, Tendulkar promptly retired to the cool confines of the pavilion.

Dravid joined Laxman but did not last long, bowled by Nilesh Kulkarni as he tried to slog. Reetinder Singh Sodhi joined Laxman at the crease and the two went after the bowling with aplomb, adding 81 runs in just 7.2 overs. Sodhi was particularly harsh on Sunil Joshi, the left arm spinner who has been out of favour with the national selectors in recent times. At the other end, Laxman continued his great run of form, scoring 79 runs in just 47 deliveries with six boundaries and four huge hits that cleared the ropes with ease. Laxman was snapped up by Vinod Kambli off Dinesh Mongia, who had a dream spell towards the end of the innings.

A batting collapse then ensued as Rajesh Sutar was dismissed in the last ball of the same over, Ajit Agarkar and Nikhil Chopra were dismissed off the first two balls of Mongia's next over, giving the left arm spinner from Punjab a hat-trick. The tail failed to give Sodhi enough support. Sodhi tried gallantly but was last man out for a well made 74 in just 39 deliveries with 7 boundaires and one six. The right-handers' XI collapsed to 346 all out in just 38.5 overs. Dinesh Mongia with 6/60 in 7 overs was easily the pick of the bowlers.

In order to surpass a total of this nature, the left-handers' XI would have needed a great start. They failed to get this - Yuvraj Singh and Vinod Kambli added 45 runs for the first wicket, at a good pace, in 6.3 overs. However Yuvraj Singh was dismissed by Agarkar for 30 in 21 balls with six boundaries. Sunil Joshi, promoted in the batting order, proceeded to give all present a wonderful exhibition of power hitting as he smashed the ball straight back down the ground in characteristic fashion. He put on 118 runs for the second wicket with Kambli in just 10.3 overs and ended up with 81 in 38 deliveries (7 fours, 8 sixes). At the other end, Kambli had lost the early momentum and this resulted in a loss of concentration. Kambli was caught by Sutar off Nikhil Chopra for 42 runs when the score was 176.

The skipper, Robin Singh then proceeded to take the game away from the right-handers. Scoring at more than 2 runs a ball to end up with 114 in just 50 deliveries, Robin Singh showed why he has been such an integral part of any Indian limited overs side in the recent past. Kanitkar and Dinesh Mongia chipped in with a few lusty hits and the left-handers' XI romped home.

It was a day of gala cricket with the batsmen ruling roost - exactly what the crowds wanted.