India’s Big Win Over New Zealand

HYDERABAD: Blistering centuries by India’s Skipper Sachin Tendulkar (115) and Saurav Ganguly (109), propelled India XI to a resounding 135-run victory over New Zealand in theng one-day match of the three-nation Siyaram Cup cricket series at the Lal Bahadur Stadium here, June 12.

Electing to bat, India put on a dazzling 208-runng partnership with Tendulkar and Ganguly toying with the bowling of Andrew Penn and spinner Dipak Patel.

With Vinod Kambli (53), Azharuddin (61 n.o.) and Ajay Jadeja (40) further consolidating the innings, the score soared to a mammoth 396 for four in the allotted 50 overs.

New Zealand started the chase in right earnest but lost the rhythm mid-way and ended up at 261 in 43.5 overs withr Bryan Young (47), Mathew Horne (73) and Craig McMillan (42) putting up a brave fight.

Earlier, Tendulkar made his intentions clear from the start and went after the bowling of Penn, executing elegant drives in succession. Penn was taken off after four overs off which he conceded 39 runs, mostly to Tendulkar.

The new bowler Dipak Patel was greeted with a flurry of strokes by the Indian Skipper, including two consecutive sixes over the long on fence, to take the score to 152 in 15 overs with the little blaster on 90 and his companion Ganguly on 48.

Tendulkar slowed down his aggression in the 90s and crawled to the three figure mark by singles, while Ganguly who played the sheet anchor till then, picked up the tempo by executing a few exquisite cover drives.

The master blaster completed his 100 off just 64 balls studded with 14 hits to the fence and three sixes.

But the badly bashed up Patel foxed Tendulkar with his flight and was caught by McMillan for 115 off 78 balls with 16 fours and three sixes during his 110 minute stay at the wicket.

Vinod Kambli joined Ganguly and together the duo put in 47 runs for the second wicket before Ganguly was caught by Fleming off Thompson for a well-made 109 off 106 balls laced with 15 fours and one six, earning him ‘Man-of-the-Match’ award.

The off-color batsmen, Kambli and Azharuddin maintained the scoring pace and added 59 runs for the third wicket till Kambli got out to an uppish shot taken by Horne off Thompson for 53 (43 balls; 3x4, 2x6).

Azhar and Jadeja went on top gear to accelerate the scoring with 82 runs for the fourth wicket when Jadeja was out off the last ball of the innings with Penn taking a well-judged catch in the deep. Jadeja scored 40 off just 26 balls and hit two sixes and three fours while Azhar was unbeaten on 61 (54 balls 9x4). (PTI)

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