Hyderabad stroll to victory over Tigers

AHMEDABAD: Hyderabad Heroes strolled to victory over Royal Bengal Tigers to finish with 12 points from their eight matches in the league phase of the Indian Cricket League at the Sardar Patel stadium here on Saturday.
After knocking off the Tigers for a meagre 111 runs in 16.4 overs, Hyderabad were home and through in 15.1 overs, thanks to Amabathi Rayudu who hammered 46 not out off 33 balls (seven fours, 1x6) and wicketkeeper Ibrahim Khaleel who struck an unbeaten 54 off 46 balls with six fours and one four.
The pair shrugged off the early dismissal of Abdul Razzaq and added 101 runs for the unfinished second wicket as Hyderabad ended on 112 for the loss of one wicket.
Earlier, Heroes' bowlers dominated play as Royal Bengal Tigers were dismissed for 111 after batting first.
Craig McMillan made the most of an early life to hit the top score of 31, Lance Klusener was next best with 21 and tailender Upul Chandana struck out to get 15 runs when the innings was all but over.
Royal Bengal Tigers started disastrously. Opener Deep Dasgupta abd Hamish Marshall, the tournament's top scorer so far, fell in quick succession to leave Tigers on an unhappy 16/2 in the fourth over. Dasgupta was leg-before to K Shahbuddin off a ball that pitched on the middle stump and moved towards leg, for four runs off seven balls.
Marshall was caught by Rayudu off the same bowlerwho almost sent back Craig McMilan befor he had opened his account. But the fielder at mid-off spilled a straightforward catch and McMillan went on to whack three fours in his 26-ball 31. Rohan Gavaskar did not last longbecoming Shahbuddin's third victim after facing five deliveries for six runs (one four). Klusener's 21 materialised off 31 balls, which was rather slow going for the South African.
In fact the rest of the Bengal innings faded away as Niki Boje (2/11) and left arm spinner PIS Reddy (3/22) struck repeated blows and did not allow the Tigers to recover. Chandana lifted his bat to inject some life into the innings, but his two fours in a knock of 15 off nine balls didn't make much of a difference.
Brief scores: Royal Bengal Tigers 111 in 19.4 overs (C McMillan 31, L Klusener 21, U Chandana 15, K Shahbuddin 3/22, PIS Reddy 3/22). Hyderabad Heroes 112/1 (I Khaleel 54 not out, A Rayudu 46 n.o.).