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Another boost for young CD side, a win in Perth Lynn McConnell - 2 April 2001
Central Districts kept their hopes alive in the Champions Cup tournament by beating Indian side Mumbai by 106 runs in Perth last night. CD will now meet the Australian entrant, the Western Warriors, tonight in Perth (NZ time) and will need to win if it is to be a chance of playing in the final on Wednesday. Mumbai ended the tournament winless, and it was well beaten last night. Mumbai asked CD to bat first, and must have been delighted when having the New Zealand Shell Cup champions 88/5, but a superb 108-run partnership between captain Jacob Oram and Glen Sulzberger got CD out of a hole and set up the winning margin. Oram showed some of the big-hitting form that made him such an important new figure in the New Zealand's international one-day programme this year. He hit three sixes, each on of them memorable blows which gave the scoring a jolt at just the right stage. Sulzberger also moved the ball around, picking up the odd boundary to do his share in the stand. Oram brought up his 50 off 51 balls and went on to score 74 off 64 balls. The only criticism of his innings could be that he looked set to score three figures but got himself out, caught in the deep when he couldn't get enough power into a skied shot to avoid a fieldsman at deep mid off. Sulzberger scored his 50 off 56 balls and the pair added the runs between 150 and 200 in 31 balls. Once they had departed, 18-year-old Greg Todd showed great maturity in his batting to keep the attacking momentum going by scoring 29 off 27 balls while Andrew Schwass chimed in with 22 off 16 balls. CD ended their 50 overs with 269/9 with left-arm spinner Nilesh Kulkarni taking 3-38 while Santosh Saxena, who had taken out the top order finished with 3-39. Mumbai, facing a tough battle to keep their hopes alive, were unable to handle the early pressure, found themselves 11/3. But another 18-year-old in the game, Vinayak Mane kept Mumbai in the hunt with a solo hand with 53 runs. He found a suitable ally in Sairaj Bahutule but he was out attempting to hit off spinner Glen Sulzberger only to be caught in the deep for 38, scored off 46 balls. That came down to CD bowling pressure. There was a looseness at times, especially in the bowling of too many wides. But Brent Hefford bowled superbly, while Oram tied the batsmen down and after he was hammered earlier, with 35 runs off his first four overs, Andrew Schwass came back very well and was sitting on a hat trick at one stage. Schwass ended the innings the most successful bowler with three wickets for 43 runs while Sulzberger took two for 28. The CD success has left plenty of interest in the last game of the round robin phase of the tournament. Coach Dipak Patel said the side could not be over-awed by the job in front of them and was sure the young side would be ready for the big game. It was a chance for the side to be positive and for the players to learn where they were at in their game. Skipper Jacob Oram praised Sulzberger's contribution to their partnership. "I was amazed the way he batted and came out and hit the ball in the middle from the start. He was the impetus we needed," he said. Oram was delighted with his innings although he said that if there was a fault he should have gone on until the 45th over. He said the side would have to play a lot better to compete with the Wests side. The top order would have to contribute with the bat and the bowlers would have to be a lot more accurate and not concede so many wides. They bowled 19 wides and five no balls. © CricInfo
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