The Hindu : Elite-C posts a big total

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Saturday, Apr 12, 2003

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Elite-C posts a big total

By Our Sports Reporter

KOCHI APRIL 11. They have known each other for some time now. Enjoy a nice wavelength. Have opened the innings for Karnataka quite a few times in the past. And though J. Arunkumar and Sujith Somasunder crossed swords in the Ranji Plate Group final just weeks ago, the two were back together for a common cause in the Duleep Trophy decider here on Friday.

After an exciting, unbroken 76-run opening stand at the Nehru Stadium, the two raised hopes of Plate-B overtaking Elite-C's huge first innings total of 426.

Arunkumar, the Plate-B captain, and Sujith Somasunder, who played for Kerala in the Ranji Trophy this season, are among the leading run-getters in the current Duleep Trophy. And if this opening combo clicks, as it pleasantly promised this evening, Plate-B has a good chance of winning its maiden title.

Arunkumar, who enjoyed a life when on 30, made 41 (4x4) and Sujith, who took a few risks, reached 34 (4x4) by the end of the second day.

Earlier, Elite-C's Hemang Badani who was stranded on 99 last evening, completed his century off the third ball this morning. He opened up nicely after that and struck five fours before being caught behind by Ajay Ratra off Venkatesh Prasad for 129 (241 balls, 2x6, 15x4).

But Badani's partner, Pankaj Dharmani (73), was not so fortunate, making his exit in the day's third over, after adding just a single to his overnight score. There were some quick runs today and Jyothi Yadav made 41 (98 b, 1x6, 5x4) as Elite-C, overnight 273 for three, finished its first essay a few minutes before tea.

Kerala left-arm spinner Sreekumar Nair, who grabbed three wickets, finished with the best figures.

The scores:

Elite-C — 1st innings: S. Parab c Sreekumar Nair b Narendra Hirwani 44, Shiv Sunder Das c Sujith Somasunder b Prasad 9, Yere Goud c Hemanth Kumar b Hirwani 34, Hemang Badani c Ratra b Prasad 129, Pankaj Dharmani c Prasad b Rakesh Dhruv 73, Nikhil Doru c Ajay Ratra b Sreeshanth 30, K. Pawar c & b Nair 17, Jyoti Yadav c Vijay Bharadwaj b Nair 41, Nilesh Kulkarni c Prasad b Hemanth Kumar 16, S.K. Trivedi lbw Nair 0, K.Parida (not out) 0, Extras (b-12, lb-7, nb-14) 33, Total (in 149.2 overs) 426.

Fall of wickets: 1-15, 2-84, 3-90, 4-276, 5-323, 6-349, 7-374, 8-420, 9-423.

Plate-B bowling: Venkatesh Prasad 17-4-36-2, S. Sreeshanth 13-1-49-1, Devendra Bundela 13-1-42-0, Sreekumar Nair 32.2-8-84-3, Narendra Hirwani 43-6-121-2, Rakesh Dhruv 27-5-64-1, Hemanth Kumar 4-1-11-1.

Plate-B — 1st innings: J. Arunkumar (batting) 41, Sujith Somasunder (batting) 34, Extras (nb-1) 1, Total (for no loss in 30 overs) 76.

Elite-C bowling: S.K. Trivedi 7-0-21-0, Jyoti Yadav 3-0-12-0, Nilesh Kulkarni 9-2-28-0, K. Parida 11-4-15-0.

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