India Seniors 242 for 3 (Rao 101*, Yuvraj 99*) beat India B 240 (Parthiv 53) by seven wickets
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out
A crackling 209-run partnership between Yuvraj Singh and Venugopal Rao, the best fourth-wicket stand in the history of the Challenger Trophy, snuffed out India B's chances of an upset victory and gave India Seniors a great chance of entering the final. Yuvraj, who walked in with the side in some trouble, clattered the inexperienced bowling line-up without respite while Rao, like he did yesterday, paced his innings to a nicety as the two steered the Seniors to a resounding seven-wicket win.
The Seniors' faster bowlers turned in an improved performance earlier in the day, after being collared in the thrilling game yesterday, and kept an untested batting line-up down to 240 in their first innings. An inspired opening burst from S Sreesanth, the fast bowler from Kerala, rattled the Seniors' top order but Yuvraj's counterattacking venom and Rao's elegant ways sealed the issue in an emphatic finish.
Yuvraj walked in amid a minor crisis. For the second consecutive game, both Sachin Tendulkar and Mohammad Kaif had fallen cheaply, both undone by the unheralded Sreesanth. Satyajit Parab was unfortunate to have slipped while trying to get back to his crease and, if not for a no-ball, Sreesanth would have added a third with a fizzing incutter that rattled Rao's stumps. Sreesanth, who has 58 wickets from 21 first-class games, cranked up a disconcerting pace from his rhythmic action, moved the ball both ways and had his tail up when Yuvraj came to the middle. And he should have had his man, when he induced Yuvraj to edge behind to Parthiv Patel, but the umpire missed the clear snick.
Yuvraj's riposte to this lucky reprieve, was volcanic; he counterattacked. Pace was met with fire as Sreesanth was cut, driven and hooked to pieces; Bhandari was dismissed; Ranadeb Bose left helpless and Yousuf Pathan savaged. Yuvraj's attack doesn't come with any half measures and the local crowd erupted in raptures at some sparkling strokeplay.
Rao was the sugar to Yuvraj's spice. In both the games he showed that he could shift gears seamlessly - hit back when in trouble, consolidate in the middle, steal singles, wangle fours and accelerate with minimum fuss. He was lucky not to be out to the very first ball he faced, reprieved by a no-ball, and was also fortunate when Yousuf grassed a return chance, but the flair with which he eased towards his century was a glorious sight. He was lucky right at the end too: both batsmen were approaching their hundreds with the target closing in and Parthiv Patel's fumble behind the stumps gifted him a four to complete his hundred. Yuvraj was left stranded on 99, but for the sheer ferocity with which he tilted the scales, was awarded the Man-of-the-Match award.
The modest nature of the total, though, helped their chase and effective spells from Irfan Pathan and Ajit Agarkar, both snaring five wickets between them, didn't allow any partnerships to flourish in the India B innings. Dinesh Mongia and Sridharan Sriram stitched together a handy partnership after they had lost the openers, and once they fell, in quick succession, Patel propped up the total with a plucky half-century. Patel was his usual bubbly self with trademark glides, punchy strokeplay and energetic running between the wickets. He latched on to anything short from the spinners, was crisp with his timing and, along with Yousuf, lent the score some respectability. On this night, though, nothing would have been enough.
How they were out
India B
Robin Uthappa c Kaif b Agarkar 10 (37 for 1)
Too early on the drive and pushed it in the air
Shikhar Dhawan c Dhoni b Harbhajan 30 (52 for 2)
Tried to cut one too close to his body
Dinesh Mongia c Yadav b Pathan 34 (124 for 3)
Uppish flash was taken well by third man
Sridharan Sriram c Parab b Pathan 44 (130 for 4)
Top edged a pull and holes out to deep square leg
Yusuf Pathan c Yuvraj b Kartik 31 (188 for 5)
Chipped one straight to short midwicket
Sunny Singh lbw b Yuvraj 0 (189 for 6)
Missed the straighter one
Sreekumar Nair b Harbhajan 1 (198 for 7)
Played all over one that held its line
Parthiv Patel c Yadav b Agarkar 53 (223 for 8)
Upper-cut a short one straight to third man
S Sreesanth lbw b Pathan 12 (228 for 9)
Missed one that swung in a shade
Ranadeb Bose b Yadav 7 (240 all out)
Missed a straight one while trying to slog
India Seniors
Sachin Tendulkar lbw b Sreesanth 4 (25 for 1)
Caught on the move by one that jagged back in
Satyajit Parab run out (Uthappa/Parthiv) 16 (29 for 2)
Slipped while trying to regain his ground
Mohammad Kaif c Parthiv b Sreesanth 0 (33 for 3)
Top edged while slashing a wide ball