Sanghvi, Saif star in ONGC triumph

ONGC stormed into the semifinals of the MRF-Buchi Babu invitation tournament at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chepauk today. After securing a first innings lead of 224 over All India Associate Banks, ONGC rattled up 166 without loss in their second essay, declaring ten minutes before tea following which the match was called off by mutual consent. The stars of the day for the victors were off spinner Rahul Sanghvi who claimed all five Banks wickets to fall today and opener Mohammed Saif who blitzed his way to a 115-ball century in the second innings.

Resuming with the Karnataka duo of Thilak Naidu and KN Ramesh at the crease, the Banks team surrendered abjectly from 240/4 to 260 all out. Sanghvi who'd gone wicketless yesterday bowled a magnificent spell of 11.2-4-14-5 this morning to wreck the lower middle order. Naidu was caught at slip by Virender Shewag for a painstaking 29 and ten runs later Ramesh followed him to the dressing room, entrapped by the same combination for 18. Tailenders R Sridhar, DP Singh and NP Singh were blown away in the space of four runs and with last man TR Sudheesh absent hurt, the innings terminated in the 91st over, Sanghvi returning with 5/69.

In just over two and a half hours of merriment, ONGC hoisted a score of 166 in 38.2 overs, openers Ravi Sehgal (53) and Mohammed Saif (101) remaining unvanquished. Sehgal reached his fifty off 119 balls but Saif, elder brother of Mohammed Kaif, reached his hundred off four balls less, pounding 12 fours and two sixes in the process. ONGC have now set up a semifinal clash with the New Zealand Cricket Academy at the same venue, beginning August 28.