Dhawan, Saxena take Reliance into DY Patil T20 quarters

MUMBAI: Riding on Shikhar Dhawan's 62 and Jalaj Saxena's 22-ball 44, Reliance 1 scored a 15-run win over strong contenders Canara Bank, their second win on the trot, to qualify for the quarterfinals from Group C in the ninth edition of the All-India DY Patil T20 Cricket Tournament at the DY Stadium, Nerul, on Monday.
Hosts DY Patil Group 'B' and Jain Irrigation scored comprehensive wins over State Bank Of Travancore and ONGC respectively, and kept their hopes for a place in the quarterfinals alive.Batting first, Reliance 1 lost the key wickets of Virender Sehwag (7) and skipper Parthiv Patel (13), who both castled early on by NC Aiyappa and C Raghu respectively.
Opener Shikhar Dhawan then added 77 runs off 54 balls for the third wicket. Eventually, he was caught at midwicket off Raju Bhatkal in the 17th over. Reliance 1 scored 158 for 8in their 20 overs.
Canara Bank managed 143 for eight, with Bharat Chipli's 36 and a 33-ball 47 by southpaw Amitg Verma going in vain. Rishi Dhawan (three for 29) was the pick of Reliance 1 bowlers.
Meanwhile, powered by half-centuries from opener Subramaniam D (54) and all-rounder Manpreet Juneja (63 n.o. & 2-9 ) DY Patil Group 'B' scored 198 for three in 20 overs against State Bank of Travancore and then restricted them to 128 for 8 in 20 overs for a convincing victory.