Services beat Haryana in cliff hanger

Gurgaon: Services defeated Haryana by one run in a cliff hanger in their third one day inter-state encounter at the Nehru Stadium here on Friday.

Electing to bat on a wicket which appeared full of runs, Services after making a hesitant start were able to raise a respectable total of 217 for 8 in the allotted 50 overs. Sarabjit Singh emerged the top scorer with 58 runs hitting five boundaries of 108 balls before being caught by Vineet Jain off Parender Sharma. Opener K.K.Dixit (44 runs, 49 balls, 1x6, 5x4 ) and C.D.Thomson (42 runs, 55 balls, 3x4 ) also made useful contributions. A partnership of 69 runs between Sarabjit Singh and C.D.Thomson for the fifth wicket was also a highlight of the Services innings. Amit Nadkari remained not out on 26.

For Haryana Sonu Sharma bowled economically conceding just 18 runs in 10 overs to capture one wicket. However, skipper Parender Sharma was the most successful bowler taking three wickets at the cost of 32 runs while Pradeep Jain and Manish Sakhalkar took two wickets each giving away 35 and 60 runs respectively.

Chasing a target of 218 at an asking rate of 4.36, Haryana looked certain to win at one stage, but lost the match by the narrowest of margins when four balls remained to be bowled. They were all out for 216 runs in 49.2 overs.

Haryana began with Jatinder Singh and Parender Sharma. Wickets continued to fall at one end but Jatinder went on to score 51 runs scored off 66 balls in 98 minutes with the help of five fours. At the fall of the sixth wicket the score was 126. Rajesh Puri and Ajay Ratra then added 41 runs off 43 balls. Ratra scored only 10 runs before he was run out by an excellent direct throw by Narender Singh. Rajesh Puri carried Haryana nearer to victory but he was caught at mid wicket by Sarabjit Singh off M.V.Rao while trying a needless heave with just two runs to win off 8 balls. He scored 73 runs with the help of a six and 8 fours off 86 balls but his innings was ultimately in vain.

For Services M.V.Rao and K.K.Dixit took three wickets each giving away 36 and 32 runs respectively.