Dravid to play in Buchi Babu

[Chandan]

Dravid to play in Buchi Babu TNCA XI, Saurashtra enter final Special Correspondent HIGH FIVES: M. Prabhu, who took five wickets, was instrumental in TNCA XI’s win over Karnataka XI. CHENNAI: TNCA XI advanced to the final of the all-India Buchi Babu cricket tournament after completing a comprehensive 145-run win over Karnataka in the two-day semifinal which concluded on Monday. Twenty-year-old off-spinner M. Prabhu took the honours on day two at the Pachaiyappa’s ‘A’ ground, returning figures of five for 53 from 18.1 overs, as Karnataka, chasing a target of 329 in 90 overs, was dismissed moments before tea. TNCA XI will play Saurashtra in the three-day final at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium from Wednesday. Karnataka appeared to have a shot at the half-way mark. Although restrained by the TNCA bowlers and a heavy outfield, C. Raghu’s side progressed to 132 for three in 45 overs. Had Karnataka strung together a partnership of some rapidity — and in K.B. Pawan and Deepak Chougule, it had the men to do it – the side might have fancied its chances of mounting a late charge. But seamer C. Ganapathy had Chougule caught smartly by wicketkeeper K.H. Gopinath, sparking a collapse that saw Karnataka lose seven wickets for 51 runs in 20.5 overs. Prabhu, a student of Loyola College, struck twice in his 15th over. The left-handed Amit Verma was held at mid-off, before Pawan’s splendid knock of 76 (166b, 9x4) was terminated by captain M. Vijay’s fine catch at slip. Prabhu, playing in his first major tournament, showed few signs of nerves. The tall off-spinner bowled with commendable control for a man of his experience. He ended the Karnataka innings with a delivery that appeared to straighten on the right-hander to draw the edge to slip. Prabhu’s senior partner, the 21-year-old R. Ashwin, finished with two wickets. Dhruv scalps five Meanwhile, left-arm spinners Rakesh Dhruv and Ravindra Jadeja got it right for Saurashtra XI against Gujarat XI in the other semifinal at the CPT-IP ground. Pursuing 326 for a win in 90 overs, Gujarat XI was dismissed for 191 in 67.3 overs. Dhruv and Jadeja form an interesting left-arm combination. Dhruv is in the classical mould, relies on flight, drift and turn. Jadeja, quicker through the air, has a handy arm ball that could become potent if he develops the one spinning away from the right-hander. Predictably, there was spin and bounce for the spinners on day two. Dhruv, five for 43, and Jadeja, three for 44, were on the ball. For Gujarat, only skipper Parthiv Patel 55 (90b, 5x4) and Digant Popat 46 (124b, 3x4) offered some resistance. Parthiv, opening the innings, played a few crisp strokes before committing the folly of playing across to a flighted delivery from Dhruv. Popat was taken at deep mid-wicket off Dhruv. Jadeja castled No. 3 Rajdeep Darshan and returned to snare the last two batsmen. Gujarat XI was never in with a chance. The scores: TNCA XI 328 for nine bt Karnataka 183 in 66.1 overs (K.B. Pawan 76, M. Prabhu five for 53); Saurashtra XI 325 for six in 90 overs bt Gujarat XI 191 in 67.3 overs (Parthiv Patel 55, Digant Popat 46, Rakesh Dhruv five for 43). Another newspaper reports : Off-spinner M Prabhu claimed five wickets for 53 runs as Karnataka XI, chasing a stiff target of 329 in 90 overs to win, collapsed for 183 in 66.1 overs. K B Pawan, who scored 76 off 166 balls with nine fours, was the lone scorer for Karnataka. Their main batsman, including former India skipper Rahul Dravid, who has been in poor form for team India too, failed to come good again. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Dravid's poor form even in the tournament like Buchi Babu is worrying. But it is surprising that Hindu is not saying anything about it. They are not even reporting it.

[fineleg]

loyola college guys getting dravid out cheaply cmon RD get in form!