Mumbai: Strong challengers Central Bank of India produced another sterling performance as they stunned finalists Air India 1-0, in an Elite Division Group-B play-off match of the Rustomjee-MDFA League, at the Neville D’Souza ground, Bandra here on Tuesday. The former champions Central Bank, who had defeated GM Sports Club 2-0 in the previous match, maintained the winning momentum and prolific striker Yogesh Kadam did the star turn by scoring the decisive winner for the bankers in the second session to secure their second straight victory.
Former champions Air India faced quite a strong fight from Central Bank who played with plenty of grit and determination and did well to finish the first half with honours even as the scoreboard remained blank. However, midway through the second session, Central Bank managed to break the deadlock when Yogesh showed good anticipation as he timed his jump perfectly to nod home Raj Bhoir’s free-kick past Air India goalkeeper Aditya Mishra in the 67th minute and to give his team the crucial lead.
Thereafter, Central Bank were resolute in defence and hung on to their lead. Goalkeeper Nitin Kotiankar made some fine saves to deny the Air India attackers from getting the equaliser and force a draw. Central Bank, having last won the League in 1991-92, now tally six points and are virtually assured of making it to the semi-final from this group.
They complete their group fixtures with a match against Kenkre FC on April 29. On the other hand, Air India has two matches one each against GM Sports Club (April 20) and Kenkre FC (April 26) and has to win both the games to keep alive their hopes of qualifying for the semi-finals.
Armaan survives
Seventh seeded Armaan Bhatia, was given a tough time by qualifier Tejas Chaukulkar before he prevailed with a 5-7, 6-2, 6-3 to move into the men’s singles pre-quarterfinals of the Khar Gymkhana- All India men’s Ranking, tennis tournament, at Khar Gymkhana at their courts here on Tuesday. Maharashtra’s fourth seeded Dhruv Sunish defeated Haryana’s Jagmeet Singh 6-4,6-0, while Athara Sharma was shown the doors by Rajasthan’s Faisal Qamar 6-2, 7-6 (5).
Yugal Bansal from, Delhi, rallied splendidly after dropping the first set to down Tamil Nadu’s Gokul Suresh 4-6, 6-4, 6-2. Likewise, youngster Dalwinder Singh, who is seeded third survived scare before overcoming Shivam Dalmia, to make the round of 16 with a 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 win.
Results
Men’s singles (Rd-32): Yugal Bansal (DL) bt Gokul Suresh (TN) 4-6, 6-4,6-2; Sahil Garware (MH) bt Amit Benewal (HR) 6-1,6-3; Dalwinder Singh (PB) bt Shivam Dalmia (DL) 4-6, 6-3, 6-3; Faisal Qamar (RJ) bt Atharva Sharma (MH) 6-2, 7-6 (5); Paramveer Singh Bajwa (PB) bt Eklavya Singh (JH) 4-6, 6-2, 6-3; Suresh Dhakshineswar (TN) bt Taha Kapadia (TS) 7-5, 6-3; Ansu Bhuyan (OD) bt Rishi Reddy (KA) 6-1, 6-3; Dhruv Sunish (MH) bt Jagmeet Singh (HR) 6-4, 6-0; Armaan Bhatia (MH) bt (Q) Tejas Chaukulkar5-7, 6-2,6-3.
Deepak shines for WR
Deepak Kumar’s brilliant knock of 60, was the highlight of Western Railway Traffic SC’s eight-wicket win against GIC Sports Club in a third round match of the Air India Invitation T20 tournament organized by Air India Western Region and played at the Air India ground, Kalina here on Tuesday.
GIC Sports Club batting first could muster 109 runs for the loss of five wickets from the 20 overs. Jairaj Chitnis top-scored for GIC with 37 runs, while Western Railway bowlers Anuj Bhoir (2-8) and Hitesh Patel (2/12) were among the wicket takers. Riding on Deepak’s knock Western Railway cruised past the target in the 15th over losing two wickets.
Brief scores
GIC Sports Club 109-5 (Jairaj Chitnis 37; Anuj Bhoir 2-8, Hitesh Patel 2-12) lost to Western Railway Traffic SC 111-2 (Deepak Kumar 60) by 8 wickets. MoM: Deepak Kumar (Western Railway).
Ordnance Factory SC 154-4 (Anil Ghavat 54, Rugved More 41*; Ankeet Gandhi 2-32) bt Times Shield Cricket Team 87 (Ankeet Gandhi 38*; Parag Patil 2-10, Brijesh Yadav 2-15, Tribhunan Nayak 2-16) by 67 runs. MoM: Anil Ghavat (Ordnance Factory).
