NKP Salve Challenger one-day cricket tournament 2006-07
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NKP Salve Challenger one-day cricket tournament 2006-07
India Reds vs India Blues News
Gautam Gambhirs ton revives India red
Oct 2, 2006
Fringe players Gautam Gambhir (110) and V. Venugopal Rao (67) asserted themselves well as India Red piled up 280 all out in the allotted 50 overs against India Blues in their first round-robin tie in the Challengers Series cricket tournament for the NKP Salve Trophy here at the MA Chidambaram Stadium this evening.
Excepting the lone centurion Gambhir and Rao, the other Indian Red players did not stay long enough on a pitch that was not offering much help to both the seamers and spinners. While Gambhir and Rao added 145 runs between them, eight other batsmen could muster only 135 runs (including 12 extras), while for the Blues Irfan Pathan came good claiming 3/55 in his quota of ten overs in two spells and Munaf Patel took three for 49. Ajit Agarkar, more impressive maintaining a good line and length, had 2/57.
As India Red began their innings, they were 2/44 in 8.4 overs with Robin Uthappa (10) and Subramaniam Badrinath (15) back in the pavilion but the Delhi opener showed grit and determination to impress the selectors headed by Dilip Vengsarkar watching the game. All along, Gambhir and Rao kept the scoreboard ticking, not merely with quick singles but with meaty blows to the boundary on both sides of the wicket. Trying to make a come back into the Indian team, Gambhir was classy in selection of shots before being ran out for 110. Rao, who set his sight on a big innings after having been let off when he was on ten, helped bring the team to safety with a solid third wicket partnership of 145 in 168 balls. It was also evident that the early loss did not deter the duo as they were comfortable at the crease and India Blue skipper, Rahul Dravid, in fact, could not find the breakthrough despite shuffling his bowlers and bringing in Sehwag and Ravindra Jadeja, the slow left arm bolwer. These two reached the hundred partnership mark in 128 balls in 92 minutes and was coasting to huge score but Rao paid the price when he tried to clear the mid-off fence without moving his legs. Rao gave a straight forward catch to Dinesh Mongia off Pathan for 67 (119 mins 101 balls, 9 fours). Rao showed responsibility after he was left-off by Jadeja off Agarkar when he was ten.
Just when India Red were motoring along, a run out put the skids on their innings. Gambhir drove Agarkar straight to Sehwag at mid-wicket and could not gain the ground when he scampered for the second run. Gambhirs 188-minute 119-ball knock included ten fours. Uthappa (10) was out flicking a shortpitched delivery from Pathan to Patel at third man and Badrinath (15), whose first three scoring shots were boundaries, sliced Pathan to point to be caught by Jadeja. After the departure of Rao and Gambhir, the India Red batsmen lacked teeth, perhaps excepting Rohit Sharma who made a fine 33 before being caught by Sachin Tendulkar off Patel. The bowler went on to claim the wickets of Ramesh Powar (0) and Murali Kartik (12).
Harbhajan Singh Memorabilia
Singh's Magnificent Hat Trick
Own a piece of Indian Cricket History
On the 1st Day of the 2nd Test, India versus Australia, in March 2001, at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, Harbhajan Singh achieved what no other Indian cricketer had ever done - he snared a magnificent Hat Trick.
Limited Edition Magnificent photographic collage of the three dismissals with the hat trick at Calcutta capturing photograph in each piece being personally signed by Harbhajan Singh. Each piece .encased in a timber frame with Perspex glazing and is supported by A-Tag microchip authentication technology, and comes complete with a Certificate of Authenticity.
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