The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Shamshad's century sets up ONGC's win

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jun 06, 2005

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Sport - Cricket

Shamshad's century sets up ONGC's win

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: A timely century by veteran Rizwan Shamshad set up Oil and Natural Gas Corporation's 70-run victory over Indian Airlines in the final of the Goswami Ganesh Dutt Memorial cricket tournament at the Khalsa College ground here on Sunday.

On a day when coping with scorching heat was a greater challenge than tackling the opponents' skills, Shamshad produced an effort which effectively shut Indian Airlines out of the contest and fetched him the `man of the match' award.

Airlines made a splendid start after electing to bowl, reducing ONGC to 73 for four, scalping Radhey Shyam, Manoj Mudgal, Gautam Gambhir and skipper Mithun Manhas. But Shamshad carved out a 142-run partnership with Amit Sharma, who contributed a confident 56 off 62 balls with five fours and one six.

A tribute

Shamshad's innings was a tribute to his endurance as he battled the demanding conditions and faced 87 balls to hit 11 fours and one six to raise ONGC's hopes of winning a major title in local cricket. Despite losing Ravi Sehgal cheaply, ONGC carried on through Mohammad Saif, who smashed 21 off 22 balls as Indian Airlines was set a target of 260.

Airlines got off to a racy start as skipper Vijay Dahiya blazed his way to a 45-ball knock of 63 with 12 fours. Airlines lost opener Ravneet Ricky for 20 before Manish Sharma (40 off 48 balls with four fours) maintained the tempo with a neat innings. But a middle order collapse saw Airlines lose Rashmi Ranjan Parida, Manvinder Bisla, Rohit Prakash, leaving Rajat Bhatia stranded. For ONGC, Sehgal's off-spin earned him three for 33 while Amit Sharma chipped in with two wickets.

Bhatia drew consolation by winning the best all-rounder's award while Ricky was adjudged the best batsman. Sehgal earned his first ever-best bowler of the tournament honours while Pradeep Chawla was declared the man of the tournament. The best youngster's award went to Tapan Jain of Shastri Club.

The scores: ONGC 259 for seven in 40 overs (Rizwan Shamshad 109, Amit Sharma 56, Rajat Bhatia four for 49) bt Indian Airlines 189 in 34.4 overs (Vijay Dahiya 63, Manish Sharma 40).

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