MUMBAI, February 22: Half centuries by opener Hrishikesh Shende and left-hander Nishit Shetty helped Karnatak Sporting Association to beat Shivaji Park Gymkhana by four wickets and enter the final of the Padmakar Talim Shield Cricket Tournament (45 overs), sponsored by Bank of India on their homeground at Cross Maidan, today.Karnatak, entering the final for the first time, will meet National who defeated New Hind by 80 runs at Matunga. A fine all-round performance by Rajesh Sutar was the highlight of National's win. The final will be played on Sunday at the MIG ground, Bandra.Karnatak did well to restrict Shivaji Park Gymkhana to 206 in the stipulated overs. Left-hander Manoj Joglekar was the top scorer with 46 off 48 balls with the help of two sixes and three fours. Praveen Amre made 29 off 36 balls.Medium pacer Anthony Dias and spinner Nishit Shetty took two wickets each.The Karnatak openers Hrishikesh Shende and Nilesh Patwardhan (35 with 4x4) gave them a good start by putting on 65 runs in16.1 overs. Thereafter Shetty put them on the victory path. Shetty's knock of 57 had a six and two hits to the ropes off 63 balls. Shende hit four boundaries in his 89 balls innings of 51.Rajesh Sutar's knock of 119 with a six and 11 fours and his 109 runs partnership for the fourth wicket with Pushkaraj Jadhav (38 with 4x3) helped National to score 251 in 45 overs. Mumbai's medium pacer Santosh Saxena was the most successful bowler with 4 for 40 in nine overs.In reply, New Hind could manage to score 172 in 42.5 overs. An unbeaten knock of 77 by Anant Tiwari was the only bright spot. Off-spinner Manish More and Rajesh Sutar captured three wickets each, while left-arm spinner Rajesh Pawar took two wickets.BRIEF SCORES:Shivaji Park Gymkhana 206 in 45 overs (Manoj Joglekar 46, Praveen Amre 29; Anthony Dias 2-23, Nishit Shetty 2-39) lost to Karnatak S A 208 for 6 (Hrishikesh Shende 51, Nilesh Patwardhan 35, Nishit Shetty 57, Ramesh Mitbavkar 24 n.o.).National 251 in 45 overs(Rajesh Sutar 119, Pushkaraj Jadhav 38; Santosh Saxsena 4-40) bt New Hind 172 in 42.5 overs (Anant Tiwari 77 n.o.; Manish More 3-21, Rajesh Sutar 3-20, Rajesh Pawar 2-23).
