da bet7k： A stroke filled 176-run fourth wicket partnership off 50.3 oversbetween Tanveer Jabbar (110 not out) and Hrishikesh Kanitkar (79)saw MRF end the first day at 320 for five against All IndiaAssociate Bank XI in the Buchi Babu all India invitation
Natarajan Sriram20-Aug-2000A stroke filled 176-run fourth wicket partnership off 50.3 oversbetween Tanveer Jabbar (110 not out) and Hrishikesh Kanitkar (79)saw MRF end the first day at 320 for five against All IndiaAssociate Bank XI in the Buchi Babu all India invitation crickettournament at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Sunday.Electing to bat, MRF were given a steady start with openersAashish Kapoor (30) and Venu Gopal Rao putting on 43 runs off 9.4overs before the former gave a simple chance to Sudeesh atmidoff, off the bowling of Akhil. This brought Hemang Badani (47)to the crease and he and Venu Gopal Rao took the score on to 116.At this stage, Badani was caught short of his crease by a directhit by Sridhar from deep square leg. Venu Gopal Rao and TanveerJabbar then saw MRF through to lunch.Soon after the interval, Venu Gopal Rao was caught at silly pointwith the score at 139. The opener had faced 120 balls for his 34and hit four of them to the ropes. Kanitkar, who came at the fallof the third wicket, looked in fine touch right from the start.At the other end Tanveer Jabbar kept the score ticking. Inparticular, Jabbar played the spinners with aplomb. Never afraidto step out, he collected two sixes and quite a few of his 14boundaries during his 218-ball essay off spinners Akhil andSridhar. The duo took MRF to tea without any further hiccups.The last session saw Kanitkar change gears. He started playinghis strokes and before long reached his half century in style,stepping out to lift the left arm spinner Shridhar over the longon fence for a boundary. Jabbar was the more sedate of the two,preferring to play the waiting game. He chose to hit the loosedeliveries which were quite a few towards the closing stages ofthe day’s play with the Associate Bank bowlers looking a tiredlot.Much of the good work done by MRF throughout the day was howeverundone by some poor cricket at the fag end. With two oversremaining, Kanitkar was caught at point by Akhil off mediumpacer Sudeesh. For his 79, he faced 130 balls and hit two sixesand seven fours. In the next over, MSK Prasad followed withouthaving troubled the scorers. N Gautham helped Jabbar negotiatethe last two overs of the day.