Sandeep Sharma's all round performance takes ONGC into final

The second semifinal of the JP Atray Memorial Tournament played at the Punjab Cricket Association's Mohali Stadium in Chandigarh saw a fine display of batting by both Air India and ONGC. An all round display by Sandeep Sharma powered ONGC into the final. After picking 4/30 he slammed a better than run a ball 116 and sent Air India packing. Tomorrow, ONGC will take on Punjab Cricket Club in what should be an exciting final.

Winning the toss, Air India skipper Pravin Amre had no hesitation in electing to bat first on a good batting track. Although the wicket had taken a bit of spin the previous day in the first semifinal clash between Punjab Cricket Club and Bishnoi Cricket Club, there was no evidence of the same today.

Tariq ur Rehman and Piyush Soneji opened the batting for the Airline, while India cap Amit Bhandari and Sandeep Sharma went hard at the them with the new ball. With the score on just 37 in the 9th over, Tariq ur Rehman retired to the confines of the pavilion owing to a back injury. When he requested a runner, it was denied to him by the opposition captain on the grounds that the injury was not sustained during the game. His departure brought under-19 hero from Ahmedabad Niraj Patel to the crease. The southpaw was in superb form and got going immediately. Chipping the ball into the gaps and occasionally driving, cutting or tucking the ball away to the fence, took on the attack in the company of Piyush Soneji.

After making a compact 39, Soneji departed, making room for the entry of Satish Samanth. He was the one player who failed to capitalise on the excellent batting conditions. After making just four, he departed, clearing the stage for the entry of discarded India cricketer Pravin Amre. Amre looked in particularly punishing mood and found in Patel an ideal partner.

The two added 70 runs in splendid fashion. Amre has a bit of a reputation of being a slow scorer, but he obviously left that back in South Africa where he played for Boland last season. He got almost every ball away for a single and was not shy to hit cleanly through the line when the ball was pitched up. After making a more than run a ball 42 Amre was caught behind off mediumpacer Sandeep Sharma.

Mumbai southpaw Sairaj Bahutule helped himself to a more than useful 34 even as Patel went from strength to strength.

With the score on 204 Patel hit a ball from Rizwan Shamshad straight down Gagan Khoda's throat at midwicket. The Air India innings then lost impetus. Sandeep Sharma returned for a good burst of fast bowling, bowling yorkers at key times. He finished with 4/30 and Air India slumped to 267 all out just three balls short of their allotted quota of 50 overs.

Although 267 is no small score, it was made one by a top heavy ONGC batting lineup. Although Sandeep Sharma had already done his bit with the ball and is primarily known for bowling mediumpace, he donned the pads and opened the batting with Rajasthan's Gagan Khoda. When they took the field, Air India were further hampered by the fact that they were fielding a side of ten men. No substitute was allowed for the injured Tariq ur Rehman.

The flood gates opened and mediumpacers suffered a heavy bashing at the hands of the two. In the first 15 overs, with the field restrictions still applying, the two dispensed with singles. Matching each other stroke for stroke they got the score to a mammoth 116 without loss. Sandeep Sharma in particular looked to be enjoying himself thoroughly. Striking the ball with the full face of the bat, Sandeep Sharma employed the simplest of techniques while Gagan Khoda showed off his mastery of the bowling. Each dispatched three balls well beyond the ropes, and had posted 174 on the board before they were separated.

Attempting one heave too many, Khoda skied the ball wide of Harvinder Singh Sodhi at long off. Running back several paces, Sodhi held a good catch just metres before the ropes.

Radhey Sham Gupte breezed in and out of the wicket as did the much spoken about Delhi talent Virender Sehwag. In all this, Sandeep Sharma changed tactics. Having powerfully taken ONGC forward, he put his head down and worked his way to a good century.

There was a bit of concern as a mini collapse in the middle order caused ONGC to struggle at 222/5. Mithun Manhas and Rizwan Shamshad however were far too experienced to throw the match away from that point. With more than 2 overs to spare, the pair took ONGC to a 5 wicket victory.