Patil powers victory

Salil Ankola (3-45), to a lesser extent Raju Kulkarni (2-42) and Suru Nayak (1-49) were the only bowlers to put up a decent show.

The match seemed beyond the reach of the Indians when they lost openers Roger Binny (3) and Salil Ankola (21) early. The dismissal of Chandrakanth Pandit (32), with the total at 78, further worsened the situation. Sixteen overs had been gone through and only South Africa looked like winning this tie.

But the advent of Patil to the crease soon changed the situation. With Yashpal Sharma playing the role of the sheet anchor Patil slowly took charge. His first 50 cameoff 38 deliveries, before he went berserk. In just five overs, the Indian duo, led by a super-charged Patil, blasted 78 runs to change the course of the match for ever. Patil’s second 50 contained four sixes and five fours and his unbeaten 120 (66b, 12×4, 6×6) easily won him the man of the match award.

Patil and Yashpal (91 not out; 86b, 5×4, 4×6) added a superb 197 runs in just 19 overs to carve up the superb win. Left-arm spinners Haasan and Henry who were really controlling the game till these two got together, had their analysis wrecked.

Roger Binny was declared the best fielder for the superb catch he took to dismiss Henry while South Africa’s Majlet (8-0-26-1) was adjudged best bowler. India won the four-match series 3-1.

Brief scores:

South Africa: 274-7 in 40 overs (M Michau 59, F Davids 56, O Henry 41, N Wright 31, Strydum 27 not out, Salil Ankola 3-45, Raju Kulkarni 2-42) lost to India Seniors 275-3 in 35.2 overs (Sandeep Patil 120 not out, Yashpal Sharma 91 not out,Chandrakanth Pandit 32, Salil Ankola 21) by seven wickets.