da fezbet： Following their marathon batting performance in the quarter-finalclash against MRF, New Zealand ‘A’ failed abysmally in their semifinal encounter against Indian Railways at the MA Chidambaram Stadiumin Chennai
Staff Reporter24-Aug-2001Following their marathon batting performance in the quarter-finalclash against MRF, New Zealand ‘A’ failed abysmally in their semifinal encounter against Indian Railways at the MA Chidambaram Stadiumin Chennai. On winning the toss and electing to bat, New Zealand ‘A’were shot out for 129 in 57 overs by the spin duo of Sanjay Satpathyand Murli Kartik. In response, Indian Railways are a healthy 114/4 andin sight of the crucial first innings lead.It was Mark Richardson, dismissed in the first over every timepreviously in this series who gave the innings a semblance ofrespectability. Carrying the bat with a patient 59, Richardson watchedin dismay as his partners all failed to reach double figures when theluncheon interval was taken. New Zealand ‘A’ were teetering at thebrink at 77/7. A late in the order ‘recovery’ from the last twobatsmen, Shane Bond (14) and Paul Wiseman (10) saw New Zealand ‘A’limp to 129 all out.The heroes on the day for Indian Railways were without a shadow ofdoubt their spinners. Former India left arm spinner Murali Kartikscalped 3/34 from 18 overs and knocked the top order out. Once heopened the flood gates, off spinner Sanjay Satpathy took over, gettingrid of the last six wickets. Satpathy’s 6/55 off 21 overs was easilythe highlight of the day.In response, Indian Railways lost three quick wickets and were in aspot of bother at 23/3. Murali Kartik however, underlined hisimportance to the Railways team, spanking an unbeaten 54 that included8 fours and 2 sixes. Yere Goud, unbeaten on 34 (97 balls, 6 fours)helped Railways get within striking distance of the New Zealand ‘A’first innings total.