Yuvi, Mongia score sparkling tons

The two teams are to meet again in the summit clash here tomorrow. In the three-team one-day competition, India Seniors captained by Saurav Ganguly were knocked out yesterday after suffering two defeats — at the hands of India ’A’ and India ’B’.

Opting to bat first after winning toss today, India ’B’ amassed a mammoth 340 for two in 50 overs, their innings marked by three century partnerships, including an unbroken one between Yuvraj and VS Thilak Naidu (47 no) for the third wicket.

Brief showers during the break after India ’B’ innings delayed the start of the reply by India ’A’, who were then given a revised victory target of 308 runs in 40 overs, at a run-rate of 7.7, based on Duckworth Lewis method. The original target of 341 had the asking rate of 6.82. Chasing under lights, India ’A’ were all out for 225 in 35.2 overs.

Sachin Tendulkar, who opened the innings for India ’A’ along with Gautham Gambhir, started on a whirlwind fashion smashing a six and four fours before playing a loose shot and giving an easy catch to Dravid at mid-off on 22, off 14 balls.

Gambhir played well for his quick-fire 58 off just 37 balls with 10 overs before being bowled by Sarandeep Singh. Ajay Ratra (1) followed soon, bowled by JP Yadav, reducing India ’A’ to 87 for three in the 10th over. Mohammed Kaif (28) and Sridharan Sriram (29) did not stay long and half the side was back in the pavilion for 149 in the 20th over.

Earlier, Yuvraj’s explosive 81-ball knock was studded with nine fours and four sixes. Yuvraj, 92 at the start of the final over of India ’B’ innings, plundered 19 runs off Irfan Pathan, including two sixes and a four, as he completed his century with a flourish.

Mongia, capitalising on two lives that he got — on zero dropped by Mithun Manhas off Avishkar Salvi and on 72 by wicket-keeper Ajay Ratra off Manhas — flayed the rival bowling with a string of 19 boundaries.

Kumble scalped the two wickets that fell but was expensive, conceding as many as 73 runs in his 10 overs.

Three century partnerships, including the unbroken one for the third wicket (121 runs in 73 balls) between Yuvraj and Naidu (47 not out in 37 balls with five fours and one six) propelled the side.

Mongia, who shared a 102 run partnerhsip with Satyajit Parab for the first wicket reached the 50 and 100 marks in style, hitting Kumble and Sachin Tendulkar for boundaries.

Kumble gave the breakthrough for his side as Parab was snapped up by Mohammed Kaif for 41, and in the 39th over, he sent back Mongia, trapping him leg before. Mongia, who faced 118 balls, put on 117 runs for the second wicket with Yuvraj Singh in 101 balls.