A dead rubber never inspires much interest or enthusiasm. The final day of the MRF Buchi Babu invitation tournament semifinal clash between the National Cricket Academy XI and Indian Airlines passed without much ado. Resuming at 350/5, the NCA boys added 88 to their overnight score before succumbing. Skipper Reetinder Singh Sodhi who came to this match with scores of 0, 0 and 1 in the last three innings he played, got some much needed batting practice. The lad looked confident on the way to making an unbeaten 29 yesterday. Today, he extended himself further, stroking his way to 71 when he was finally dismissed. Just two runs later the NCA were all out for 438.

The stars of the Indian Airlines team did not see much point in taking the field on a hot Chennai day. With absolutely nothing to play for, VVS Laxman cooled his heels in the pavilion and let the youngsters sweat it out. Ravneet Ricky and Manish Sharma opened for Airlines, continuing an association that paid India rich dividends in the Under-19 World Cup in Sri Lanka. Sharma however did not last long. After making just eight, he was scalped by India Under-19 mediumpacer Mrithyunjay Tripathi. Ricky then took over, cutting and pulling with abandon. The wicket did nothing to assist the fast bowlers and any attempt to bang the ball in short was treated with contempt.

Ricky was also unafraid to use his feet against the spinners. Coming down the track, he cleared the infield with consummate ease on more than one occasion. When he finally fell, it was to a brilliant catch by substitute fielder Nikhil Doru. Stretching full length on the ropes wide of mid off, Doru plucked a ball out of the air just before it sailed over the ropes. Ricky's entertaining 76 had ended in dramatic fashion.

Shafiq Khan came in at the fall of the first wicket and he complemented Ricky well. If anything, he was more positive. Although not as solid as the lad from Amritsar, Shafiq Khan hit the ball hard, taking a few risks too many. One such heave to the on side was snapped up by Rakesh Dhruve running in from long on. Shafiq Khan had made a brisk 63 from 55 balls.

At tea, Vijay Dahiya and Arunkumar were toying with the bowling when the two captains agreed that enough was indeed enough. Over hot cup of Chennai `chai' Dahiya informed the umpires that he had spoken to his opposite number and that they had agreed to call of play. The umpires were only too grateful and called stumps.

Although there were a few muted celebrations in the NCA camp, the fact that they had advanced by virtue of first innings lead yesterday itself rendered the whole day meaningless. In the other semifinal encounter, the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation XI managed to squeak past the New Zealand Cricket Academy XI in a tight finish. As a result, the NCA XI takes on ONGC XI in the three day final which commences on September 1 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium at Chepauk.

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