Abhishek Nayar's unbeaten 94 helped Mumbai CA Colts edge past Andhra Pradesh by two wickets to set up a title clash with TNCA Districts XI in the Buchi Babu Memorial Trophy here today.
Chasing 266 for a win, Nayar lifted Mumbai from 159 for six to help them achieve their target in 86 overs in the semi-final encounter. Nayar got together with Siddhesh Lad to stitch 91 runs between themselves in 20.5 overs to turn the tables for Mumbai.
Andhra leg-spinner B Sudhakar, who claimed 5 for 145 in the quarterfinals against TNCA President's XI, took another five-wicket haul but in vain.
In another last-four clash, left-arm spinner R Sai Kishore turned on the heat with a five-wicket haul to skittle out Himachal Pradesh for 98 in pursuit of their 287-run target. Sai Kishore, who bowled 15 overs on the trot, was helped by off-spinner P Sakthi's 4 for 39.
Himachal were in command at 44/1 in 9.2 overs but they lost four quick wickets in space of 20 runs to be in dire straights at 74 for five and never recovered from then on.
This was Sai Kishore's second successive five wicket haul in the tournament, the best was six for 89 against Haryana in the quarterfinals, totalling 14 wickets in five games.
The finals of the Kalpathi AGS Buchi Babu All India invitation tournament would be held at the M A Chidambaram stadium on Monday and Tuesday next.
Brief Scores: TNCA Districts XI 286 in 89.2 overs beat Himachal Pradesh 98 in 33.3 Overs (Prashant Chopra 28, P Sakthi 4-39, and R Sai Kishore 5-27)
Andhra 265 for nine in 90 overs lost to Mumbai CA Colts 266 for eight in 86 Overs (Shrideep Mangela 39, Akhil Herwadkar 24, Siddhesh Lad 39, Abhishek Nayar not out 94 (139b, 7x4, 3x6) and H Sivaraj 2-87 and B Sudhakar 5-87).
