Ganesh stars for Combined

After restricting Bangalore’s lead to 116, thanks mainly to skipper B Akhil’s unbeaten 149, Combined bowlers were all over their rival batsmen in the second hit. Left-arm seamer S Arvind had rekindled Combined hopes on Friday with a four-wicket burst that had reduced Bangalore 120 for six coming into the final day.

Enjoying a 234-run cushion, Bangalore, it appeared, still held the aces. However, off-spinner Udit Patel polished off the tail in quick time to bundle out Bangalore for 155 in 51.3 overs. Patel finished with figures of four for 53 while Arvind (5/35) added one more to overnight tally to complete a five-wicket haul. 

Needing 272 for an outright win, Combined found their heroes in Ganesh Satish (86 n.o.) and R Jonathan (61). Besides the duo, Nithin Bille (36 n.o.), Sunil Kumar Jain (35) and Mayank Agarwal (26) came up with useful cameos to steer their team home in mere 51 overs.

Brief scores: Bangalore Zone: 431 all out in 137 overs and 155 all out in 51.3 overs (S Arvind 5-35, Udit Patel 4-53) lt to Combined XI: 315 all out in 94 overs and 272/5 in 51 overs (R Jonathan 61, Mayank Agarwal 26, Ganesh Satish 86 n.o., Sunil Kumar Jain 35, Nithin Bille 36 n.o.; Chethan William 2-66, Anirudha Joshi 2-42).