Canara bank triumph

Joshis all-round show spurs team to 18-run win

Evergreen all-rounder Sunil Joshi did the star turn as Canara Bank overcame a strong challenge from Rail Wheel Factory Sports Association by 18 runs in the final of the Dell-KSCA Group II Division I Super League.

At the Chinnaswamy stadium, under lights on Wednesday night, the left-hander made a blistering unbeaten half-century to top-score in Canara Bank’s competitive 267 for six in 50 overs, then returned to take two for 42 as NC Aiyappa’s men stormed to the title.

The final wasn’t without controversy, RWF’s Shoaib Manager being dismissed obstructing the field not just on the verge of a century but when he was marshalling his side’s quest for victory.

Manager was adjudged out after a consultation between umpires NRS Prabhu and P Jaypal following an appeal from Canara Bank when he seemed to put out his bat to baulk a throw from wicket-keeper Somashekar Shiraguppi directed at the stumps at the non-striker’s end.

It triggered off a few moments of tension with play being stopped for a while, but the umpires handled the situation with authority and common sense and ensured that things didn’t get out of hand.

Until his bizarre dismissal, Manager had almost single-handedly threatened to spoil Joshi and Canara Bank’s party with a 78-ball 95 (11x4, 2x6), an innings of tremendous quality.

However, he received precious little support from the other end apart from R Jonathan’s cameo of 33 (22b, 5x4, 1x6) and Canara Bank held their nerve at crucial stages to come away unscathed, Joshi well supported by the pace duo of the nippy Ronit More (2/47) and Raajoo Bhatkal (2/35).

There were important contributions for Canara Bank through their order, starting from the opening pair of Bharath Chipli (45, 56b, 5x4) and KB Pawan (27), who put on 53 in 76 deliveries, and extending to the middle-order pair of C Raghu (42, 53b, 4x4) and Bhatkal (45, 59b, 1x4, 1x6). However, it was the blazing pyrotechnics right at the end of the innings of Hyderabad coach Joshi that proved decisive, the former India left-arm spinner smashing five fours and three sixes on his way to a 34-ball 61 not out.

Just as well, all teams might be thinking, that he won’t be playing in the Subbiah Pillai Trophy South Zone one-day tournament beginning in the City in ten days’ time!

Brief scores: Canara Bank: 267/6 in 50 overs (Bharath Chipli 45, KB Pawan 27, C Raghu 42, Raajoo Bhatkal 45, Rahul Bhatkal 25, Sunil B Joshi 61 n.o.; Prasanna Patil 2-47) bt Rail Wheel Factory Sports Association: 249 all out in 48.2 overs (R Jonathan 33, Shoaib Manager 95, KH Manoj 28; Ronit More 2-47, Sunil B Joshi 2-42, Raajoo Bhatkal 2-35).