Vadhera, Shamshad help ONGC post imposing total

There was plenty of joy for members of the Oil and Natural Gas Commission XI in the second day of their match against All India Associated Banks XI in the Buchi Babu Invitation Tournament 2000. Driven forward by a classy knock of 157 from skipper Gautham Vadhera, ONGC notched up a mammoth 484/5 declared.

Supporting his skipper well, Rizwan Shamshad slammed 114 in a stroke filled display of aggressive batsmanship. Shamshad was particularly severe on the spinners. His knock however, was made more valuable by Vadhera's patient knock.

Although the new ball was taken first thing in the morning, the mediumpacers delivered just 4 overs before the ball was handed back to the spinners.

In what must be an unusual situation, All India Associated Banks XI employed their third stumper of the match in the form of CP Sahu. Mithun Minhas gave Sahu the pleasure of being on the scoreboard as he was stumped off Panchasara.

Shortly before drinks, Vadhera decided that he had enough runs on the board and called it quits at 484/5. Responding to this huge score, All India Associated Banks were in trouble immediately. Delhi mediumpacer Amit Bhandari struck twin blows, removing the openers Sahu and Daniel Manohar with just 37 on the board. Devendra Bundela saved All India Associated Banks from further embarrassment as he shored up one end. Making 103 including 16 boundaries, pushed the score forward. Pankaj Dharmani played a speedy knock, bringing up his half century with 10 boundaries to his name. After slamming a majestic six over mid wicket off spinner Rahul Sanghvi, he succumbed for 64.

At the fall of Dharmani's wicket, the scoring rate dropped once more. Shortly after making his hundred, Bundela fell, with the score on 214. Karnataka stumper Tilak Naidu (26) and KN Ramesh 4) saw All India Associated Banks safely through to stumps at 223/4.