Sahara fails to enter Sheesh Mahal final

Lucknow, May 9 (UNI) The hosts' Sahara India, laced with star players, failed to qualify for the final of the Sahara City Homes Sheesh Mahal Cricket Tournament here today.

At the K D Singh Babu Stadium, Sahara was beaten by Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) by a thin margin of 17 runs in the first semi finals of the tournament.

In the second semis, fancied Indian Airlines (AI) -- with the help of fine batting by cricketer star Mohd Kaif -- moved into the final beating Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) by five wickets at Chowk Stadium.

The final will be played between IA and PCA at the K D Singh Babu Stadium to lift the coveted cup.

In the first low scoring semi final, PCA gave a moderate target of 173 to Sahara. Although PCA top order batted confidently and at half way, were in strong position at 131 for the loss of only three wickets, but in the later half former india star Harvinder Singh gave them four blows in a row and restricted them at 172. Harvinder claimed 4/18 in his 6.4 overs.

Medium pacer from West Bengal Ranadeb Bose, who was knocking at the doors of Team India, claimed 3/35 in his 6 overs spell.

In reply, Sahara opened with Team India discard Waseem Jafar (8), who was dashed for the tournament only yesterday, failed to perform according to his reputation.

Besides, the centurian of first match for Sahara, Yusuf Pathan went cheaply after hitting a boundary in his 7 balls innings.

Ankur Kakkar, who was performing well with the ball till now in the tourney dispatched half of the side to pavilion at the cost of only 16 runs. The whole team bundled out 18 runs short of the target at 155.

In the second semis at Chowk Stadium, international star Mohd Kaif was unlucky to miss his first century of the tournament, when his team, Indian Airlines, reached the victory target of 236 set by ONGC, spairing 11 balls.

Kaif remained undefeated at 97, which inluded four boundaries and equal number of sixes in his 87 ball innings. The other not out batsman was Deepak Joon (28).

Skipper Vijay Dhaiya, who was playing consistantly well, could not last long today and departed at his individual score of 15 runs.

Earlier, batting first, ONGC hit 235 for 8 wikets. Skipper Rizwan Shamshad, who announced his retirrment from the first class cricket today, scored 31 runs with a delightful six boundaries.

UNI