Nagpur, Oct 11: India Red stormed into the final of the NKP Salve Challenger trophy 2011 with a convincing eight-wicket victory against India Green. The Reds’ part-time offspinner, Yusuf Pathan, took four wickets for just 25 runs as India Green were bowled out for a less than competitive score of 170 in 37.5 overs. The Reds then chased down that score in just 29 overs for the loss of two wickets.
The one-sided nature of the result wasn’t evident early in the match when Robin Uthappa (56) and S Anirudha (37) struck a 100-run opening stand for India Green. However, Uthappa’s dismissal in the 16th over of the innings at the hands of pacer TP Sudhindra, triggered a collapse and the Greens went from 100 for no loss to 170 all out. Pathan’s four-wicket haul was complemented by two wickets each from Sudhindra and offspinner Jalaj Saxena. Former India player, Mohammad Kaif, made the only noteable contribution for the Greens with a battling innings of 29 (54 balls).
India Red’s target of 171 was reduced to 152 from 42 overs under the V Jayadevan (VJD) method after a brief rain delay following the dinner break. However, that did not deter the Red’s fortunes as both Gautam Gambhir (57 off 53) and Abhinav Mukund (61 off 70) struck brisk half-centuries to set up a handsome eight-wicket victory for their side.
India Green now play India Blue to determine which side will play the Reds in the final on October 13.
Brief Scores: India Red 152 for 2 in 29.0 overs (Abhinav Mukund 61, Gautam Gambhir 57, Ishwar Chaudhary 1/21) beat India Green 170 all out in 37.5 overs (Robin Uthappa 56, Yusuf Pathan 4/25) by 8 wickets under the VJD method
