Chavan, Fallah tame Raigad

Photo: Anand Chaini

Ajay Chavan celebrates after dismissing Raigad batsman

B D Narayankar

bapun@sakalherald.com

PUNE: Exploiting the gloomy condition, Poona Club pacemen Samad Fallah and Ajay Chavan ran through Raigad Cricket Academy’s innings with devastating spells bowling them out for a mere 79 runs on the first day’s play of MCA Invitation Senior League Tournament played here on Thursday.

Both Ajay and Samad, bowling a superb line and length with controlled movement, bagged four wickets each, giving a tremendous boost to their confidence.

After a delayed start to wet conditions due to overnight rains, Poona Club captain Ajay Chavan sent Raigad in for batting after reading the windy conditions. Exploiting the situation, Ajay and Samad bowled to a plan making Raigad openers to play at the ball.

Both openers found going tough in the middle with Ajay and Samad getting the ball to swing. “The condition was similar to England. We were getting good amount of swing,” Ajay and Samad told Herald at tea.

Both bowlers unsettled the batsmen with intimidating bowling tactics too – making the ball to rise from short of a good length spot and hurling yorkers.

At one stage, Samad was on the verge of a hat-trick, but was unlucky to have not got a LBW decision in his favour.

While Samad removed Ranjit Deshmukh (0), Arman Sheikh (0), Sanjay Solanki (4) and Suraj Patil (5), Ajay sent back Shankar Dalvi (0), Yogesh Pawar (16), Prashant Rajan (0) and Vinit Thakur (0).

In reply, Poona Club started their innings, losing Amit Kadam to Uday Gadre for one. They lost other two wickets in the form of Mayur Nighot (9) and Mithun Kirad (0) to the same bowler.

Poona Club were 55 for three with Prem Ahire batting on 40 runs after the umpires called off the play due to rains.

BRIEF SCORES: Raigad Cricket Academy I Innings 79 all out in 24 overs (Samad Fallah 4 for 22, Ajay Chavan 4 for 20); Poona Club I Innings 55 for 3 in 10.1 overs (Uday Gadre 3 for 15)