Dravid, Bedade enthrall city crowd

PUNE, June 7: Though he has been shunted in and out of the Indian cricket team for quite some time now, the scene at the Sudhir Kulkarni ben...

PUNE, June 7: Though he has been shunted in and out of the Indian cricket team for quite some time now, the scene at the Sudhir Kulkarni benefit match at Nehru Stadium here today, told its own story. A story based on the crowd8217;s reaffirmation of their faith in this cricketer and the message that they definitely want to see him at the crease again.

And quite naturally, the man in question 8211; Rahul Dravid 8211; also obliged the Pune crowd with his batting flair. Leading the Mahindra Voyager XI, after electing to bat, Dravid played a captains knock of 75 runs from 63 balls in his team8217;s total of 212 for seven in the allotted 35 overs. Playing on this wicket after a gap of three years and for the first time after donning the national colours, Rahul also somewhat made up for the absence of Sachin Tendulkar, with a run feast of eight boundaries and three huge sixes, which helped him cross the 50-run mark in just 52 balls.

However, apart from Rahul and the other star attractions 8211; Rajesh Chauhan, Kiran More, Nilesh Kulkarni, Dodda Ganesh, veteran Sandeep Patil, Chandrakant Pandit and the guest appearance player Vinod Kambli 8211; the man of the moment was Atul Bedade with his magical century, which included a hat-trick of sixes off Nilesh Kulkarni. The Baroda man, coming in at no. 3 for Bajaj Auto XI, hit a quickfire 105 to hold on the fast vanishing crowd once Rahul had left five minutes after lunch. And in doing so, Bedade also successfully powered his side to a three wicket win.

He started the onslaught in the 11th over with a six off off-spinner Rajesh Chauhan, and quickly followed it up with eight more. In the 12th, 14th and 18th overs, Sujit Somsunder got the same punishment as Bedade lifted the ball for a six in each of them. Later, it was Nilesh Kulkarni8217;s turn to face the fire, as Atul first hit a six in the 20th over, following it up with three consecutive sixes at mid-on in the 22nd over, thus putting life back into the match. Bedade, who was adjudged the Man-of-the-Match, also had seven hits towards the fence in both his, and his team8217;s, success story.

Scoreboard
MAHINDRA VOYAGER XI: Sujit Somsunder b Paras Mhambre 24, Jatin Paranjpe b Amit Dani 11, Rahul Dravid c sub Sunil Lele b Niranjan Godbole 75, Shantanu Sugwekar st. Kiran More b Kunal Hazare 39, Sandeep Patil b K Hazare 2, Chandrakant Pandit 25 not out, Rajesh Chauhan c Kiran More b Kunal Hazare 9, Dodda Ganesh 0 n.o.. Extra: 20.

TOTAL: 212 7 wkts; 35 overs.

Fall-of-Wickets: 1/15, 2/40, 3/147, 4/166, 5/166, 6/195, 7/212.

Bowling: Paras Mhambre 6-0-20-2; Amit Dani 5-1-35-1; Salil Ankola 7-1-34-0; Atul Bedade 5-0-36-0; Kunal Hazare 7-0-48-3; Niranjan Godbole 2-0-13-1; Amit Pagnis 3-0-20-0.

BAJAJ AUTO XI: Amit Pagnis c Sujit Somsunder b Nilesh Kulkarni 32, Connor Williams c Nilesh Kulkarni b Dodda Ganesh 21, Atul Bedade c Prasad Kanade b Nilesh Kulkarni 105, Mandar Phadke c Rajesh Chauhan b Parag Chitale 17, Amit Dani c Nilesh Kulkarni b Dodda Ganesh 1, Kiran More b Shantanu Sugwekar 10, Kedar Chavan lbw Dodda Ganesh 0, Kunal Hazare 6 n.o., Mangesh Vaidya 5 n.o.. Extras: 19.

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TOTAL: 216 7 wtks, 33.2 oversFall-of-Wickets: 1/53, 2/135, 3/182, 4/193, 5/204, 6/204, 7/206.Bowling: Dodda Ganesh 7-0-29-3; Prasad Kanade 4-0-27-0; Sujit Somsunder 5-0-41-0; Rajesh Chauhan 7-1-39-0; Nilesh Chavan 6-0-54-2; Parag Chitale 3-0-14-1; Shantanu Sugwekar 1.2-0-6-1.

Man-of-the-Match: Atul Bedade.Result: Bajaj Auto XI win by 3 wicket.Umpires: A Ghatpande, TejhanduScorers: Jayant Gokhale, Sunil Dighe.