NKP Salve Challenger Trophy 2008-09

India Red v India Blue at Cuttack

IND Red v IND Blue: Uthappa shines in India Blue win

Robin Uthappa scored a fluent 94 to steer defending champions India Blue to a 49-run win over India Red in the opening match of the NKP Salve Trophy Challenger Series at Barabati Stadium.
Chasing a target of 236, India Red failed to capitalise on M Vijay's defiant 89 to be dismissed for 186 in 45.3 overs. Tamilnadu opener Vijay waged a courageous fight at one end, while wickets fell one after another at the other. Vijay put on 78 runs for the fifth wicket with Manoj Tiwari (45) before being caught at long-on of the bowling of R Ashwin.
India Red's batting order crumbled after the dismissal of M Vijay who, for a brief time was on the verge of turning the game around for them. Off-spinner Ashwin emerged as the most successful bowler for India Blue, bagging three wickets for 27 runs. India Red will meet India Green in the next match tomorrow.
Earlier, India Blue won the toss and made 239 for nine in the stipulated 50 overs. The star-studded India Blue failed to live up to their reputation as captain Yuvraj Singh (6), Virat Kholi (18) and wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Karthik (0) got out cheaply.
However, in the later stages of the innings a cameo knock of 43 runs of 44 balls by Irfan Pathan helped them to reach a respectable total. Showing good footwork and timing, Uthappa hit nine fours and a six in his 106-ball knock. In association with Ajinkya Rahane (28), Uthappa gave India Blue a fine start by garnering 87 runs for the fisrt wicket. That also proved to be the best partnership of the innings.
After that wickets fell at regular intervals as India Red fought back with tight bowling and enthusiastic fielding. For India Red new ball bowlers Pravin Kumar and Laxmipathy Balaji and off-spinner Mohnish Parmar claimed two wickets each.

IND Red v IND Blue: India Blue 235 for 9 beat India Red 186 all out by 49 runs

NKP Salve Challenger Trophy 2008-09

India Red v India Blue at Cuttack

Scorecard

India Blue:
R Uthappa c Tiwary b Sharma 94, A Rahane c Chawla b Balaji 28, Y Singh c Badrinath b Vinay Kumar 6, V Kohli c & b Parmar 18, K Karthik c Patel b Parmar 0, I Singh b Balaji 17, I Pathan c Tiwary b P Kumar 43, R Ashwin b Chawla 11, P Sangwan b P Kumar 2, C Nanda not out 1, S Trivedi not out 3
Extras (lb-11, w-1): 12
Total (for 9 wickets): 235
FoW: 1-87, 2-94, 3-132, 4-132, 5-165, 6-191, 7-222, 8-231, 9-231
Bowling: P Kumar 10-0-34-2, Balaji 10-0-51-2, V Kumar 7-0-30-1, P Chawla 10-0-54-1, M Parmar 10-1-36-2, R Sharma 3-0-19-1

India Red:
P Patel c & b Pathan 6, M Vijay c Sangwan b Ashwin 89, P Chawla c Karthik b Sangwan 9, S Badrinath lbw b Nanda 10, R Sharma c I Singh b Trivedi 2, M Tiwary not out 45, A Nayar st Karthik b Y Singh 1, P Kumar bAshwin 2, V Kumar lbw b Nanda 5, L Balaji b Ashwin 1, M Parmar lbw b Pathan 4
Extras (b-5, lb-5, w-2): 12
Total: 186
FoW: 1-18, 2-27, 3-63, 4-66, 5-144, 6-149, 7-158, 8-177, 9-178
Bowling: I Pathan 6.3-2-24-2, P Sangwan 6-1-17-1, S Trivedi 6-1-27-1, R Uthappa 1-0-11-0, C Nanda 8-0-35-2, Y Singh 8-0-35-1, R Ashwin 10-0-27-3

NKP Salve Challenger Trophy Tournaments