Powermen to meet Professionals in Twenty20 finals

Chandigarh, May 6 (UNI) Fast bowler Basant Mohanty (4 for 9) upset the apple cart of star-packed and hot favourites Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) as All India Electricity Sports Control Board (AIESCB) recorded a thrilling 16-run win in the semi-final of the First All India Prize Money Twenty20 Cricket Tournament at the Sector 16 Cricket Stadium here today.

The powermen can now gain sweet revenge against Professional Cricket Club who had defeated them in the group B league programme.

Gurinder Saini (61) and Bageshwar Bisht (36) were associated in a 77-run partnership as Professional Club registerd an fluent eight-wicket win over Himachal Cricket Club in another semi-final match.

Facing a target of 146 for win, ONGC were in total command till the 15th over. However, dismissal of opener Radheshyam Gupta (58, 7x4s), caught by Harikrishan Kali of the bowling of Ikhlak Ahmad (1 for 28) at 113 for 3 with fifth ball of the 16th over, changed the complexion of the game.

The star-studded batting line-up of ONGC collapsed like nine pins as they lost six wickets for just 24 runs. They ended up at 137 for 8 in 20 overs.

Basant Mohanty and Ashok Dhinda broke the backbone of ONGC.

Mohanty dismissed Sandeep Sharma (7), Mithun Minhas (37), Amit Sharma (0) and Ajay Ratra (0). From the other end, Ashok Dhinda (2 for 30) captured the wickets of Mohamed Saif (1) and Sumit Narwal.

Earlier, ONGC won the toss and asked AIESCB to bat first. The ONGC team met success in the first over itself as medium pacer Amit Bhandari had opener Parabhjot Singh (5) caught by Rahul Sanghvi with scoreboard reading just 6 for 1. Thirteen runs later, Bhandari (2 for 27) struck again as he dismissed opener Sandeep Kohli (7), caught behind by Ajay Ratra.

Then Charanjeet Singh (23) and Lakhbir Singh (28) propped up the AIESCB innings by putting on 44 runs before the former was caught and bowled by Rahul Sanghvi (2 for 22) . Later in the innings, Ridhiman Saha (30 not out, 3x4s, 1x6) and Sanjiv Goyal (25) were associated in a 41-run partnership for the sixth wicket. AIESCB scored 153 for 6 in 20 overs and their innings lasted 85 minutes.

MORE UNI