Indian Airlines skipper Vijay Dahiya won the toss in their semifinalencounter against the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in the MRF BuchiBabu Invitation tournament on Monday

Anand Vasu28-Aug-2000Indian Airlines skipper Vijay Dahiya won the toss in their semifinalencounter against the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in the MRF BuchiBabu Invitation tournament on Monday. On a flat wicket at the IITChemplast Ground, Indian Airlines were saved the blushes by MuraliKartik and Dodda Ganesh and their 95-run ninth wicket stand that sawIndian Airlines reach 267 just two balls short of 88 overs.Earlier in the day, Karnataka’s J Arunkumar and youngster ManishSharma failed to get the Airlines team off to a good start. Playingslowly from the beginning, Airlines were one down with just 21 runs onthe board. Rakesh Patel was the wrecker-in-chief in the morningsession. He scalped Arunkumar and then removed Laxman off the verynext ball. VVS Laxman will be disappointed with his first ball duck.The stylish Hyderabadi batsman favours batting in the middle order.Having gotten the chance at number three, all he could do was snickthe ball through to the wicketkeeper. Rohit Jhalani was not one tomiss out on a key wicket like Laxman, and snared the chance.Shafiq Khan, who slammed a ton in the last game he played, alsosuccumbed quickly, without even opening his account. MrithyunjayTripathi, one of the heroes of India’s Under-19 World Cup triumph inSri Lanka, had Shafiq Khan caught by Dhruv. The last thing IndianAirlines needed was a run out – and this was exactly what they got.Manish Sharma (20) was caught short off his ground by a handy bit offielding from Yuvraj Singh.At 27/4, the Indian Airlines team was in deep, deep trouble. Afighting half century from Ravneet Ricky managed to give the inningssome semblance of dignity. When he was dismissed just three runs shortof his half century by left arm spinner Rakesh Dhruv, there was moretrouble for Indian Airlines. A few quick wickets later they were 157/8and looking down the barrel.The fall of the eighth wicket brought India caps Murali Kartik andDodda Ganesh together. Both have played for India but without gettinga long run so they had a lot to play for. No one had more to play foron the day than Murali Kartik. Not long ago, he was expelled from theNCA on disciplinary grounds. The director of the NCA, Hanumant Singhhas also made it amply clear since, that they would not reconsidertheir decision. Every sweep Kartik played, every straight drivesmarted of this expulsion.Sparing no bowler, the Railways southpaw put the attack to the sword.With the wicket doing nothing whatsoever for the bowlers, all MohammedKaif could do was rotate the bowling around and hope that a wicketwould fall. By the time it did, it was too late. Kartik had slammedhis way to an unbeaten 62 that included one majestic hit that clearedthe ropes. Ganesh was not one to be left behind. Although he wascareful with anything pitched in the right spot, he was severe onanything that was not. When all rounder Reetinder Singh Sodhi bangedthe ball short at Ganesh, the day’s story was told. The Karnatakaseamer leaned back and clouted the ball well over the ropes on the legside. The Indian Airlines batsmen let out a whoop of joy from theconfines of the pavilion. However, in all honesty, they should havestill been out in the middle grinding an inexperienced attack into adocile pitch.Tripathi was handed a brand new ball in the 82nd over of the day. Theyoung mediumpacer responded to his captain’s call in fine fashion,breaking up the ninth wicket partnership that had made life so hardfor the NCA. Ganesh was out playing one shot too many, but had alreadyscored an invaluable 42.The last man in, Vineet Jain was shielded well by Murali Kartik.However, no one can be shielded endlessly. After surviving 16 balls atthe crease, Jain found the 17th too hot to handle. Succumbing totemptation, he attempted a stroke across the line to a straight balland was trapped plumb in front. The final score of the Indian Airlinesteam was 267 and at 157/8 they might not have thought they would getquite so many.With an awkward five overs to face, Sridharan Sriram and Shiv SunderDas walked out to the middle. Neither appeared to be playing forstumps. Ganesh sent down a couple of nippy overs that were left wellalone at one end. From the other end however, three bowlers got anover apiece. Vineet Jain managed to send down an over for just tworuns. The other two – Indian bowlers at that – were not as lucky.Murali Kartik sent down an over of bad deliveries. He was lucky to behit away for just two boundaries. Nikhil Chopra, sending down the lastover of the day to Sriram could not entice the youngster from Chennaiinto making a mistake.At the end of a long day’s play, NCA were 17/0. Tomorrow holds thekey, and if the NCA batsmen are organised and sensible, they should beon the way to reserving a spot in the final.