Confident start by holders Jolly Rovers

The TNCA senior division league 2000-2001 commenced on July 11 with a full round of six matches. The league was actually scheduled to begin on July 7 but was put off due to inclement weather. But the rain continued and some of the matches were affected by the wet conditions.

Holders Jolly Rovers commenced their defence of the Rajah of Palayampatti Shield in a confident manner when they got first innings points comfortably against newly promoted Mambalam Mosquitos at the IIT Chemplast ground. Batting first, Jolly Rovers rattled up 371 for four declared off 73.4 overs. The highlight was a 246-run partnership off 55.2 overs for the second wicket between Sujith Somasundar (130) and S Badrinath (113). While opener Somasundar batted four hours, faced 183 balls and hit nine fours and four sixes, Badrinath batted nearly 4-1/2 hours, faced 195 balls and hit six fours and a six. The momentum was maintained with Jatin Paranjpe hitting 47 not out and NA Kudva slamming 52 off just 26 balls with five sixes and two fours. He hit these runs out of a 70-run fourth wicket partnership off 6.3 overs with Paranjpe. In reply Mambalam Mosquitos could only score 187 off 78.1 overs with S Chandramouli coming in at No 7 top scoring with 36. In the remaining time Jolly Rovers were 89 for two in their second innings.

The match between Indian Overseas Bank and Alwarpet at the MAC stadium ended with honours and four points shared. Put in to bat, IOB were all out for 284 off 89.3 overs on the first day. After four wickets had fallen for 61 runs, JR Madanagopal (69) and Rajesh Kannan (59) added 121 runs for the fifth wicket off 36.4 overs. Veerannan (4 for 78) and Ramdas (4 for 85) shared the bowling honours. Alwarpet in reply ended at 186 for five. J Harish top scored with a patient 67 for which he batted nearly 3-1/2 hours, hitting ten fours. He received valuable support from R Subashraj (31) with whom he added 80 runs for the third wicket after two wickets had gone down for 51, and Aditya Srikkanth who remained unbeaten with 34.

The most exciting match in the first round was the encounter between Kohinoor CC and Southern Railway at the latter's ground. Put in to bat, Southern Railway, a promoted team, were all out for 255 on the second morning. D Dharman coming in at No 6, top scored with 71. Valuable knocks by skipper S Ramesh (59) and Satish Kumar (44) put Kohinoor on course to taking the lead but Suresh Kumar brought Southern Railway back into the game by taking some quick wickets. Ultimately, amidst a lot of excitement, he took the last wicket with the scores level and the teams took three points each. Suresh Kumar took six wickets for 77 runs. The start of play on both days was delayed because of rain.

A breezy 121 by State all rounder Aashish Kapoor highlighted the match between Globe Trotters and Indian Bank at the AC Tech ground. Thanks to Kapoor's knock, which was compiled off just 98 balls and included 13 fours and four sixes, Globe Trotters were able to take first innings points. Put in to bat, Indian Bank recovered from a poor start (41 for three) to total 253, thanks in the main to Shyam Sundar's 81. He batted patiently for nearly four hours, and faced 181 balls, hitting nine fours and a six in the process. The total however proved to be no hurdle at all for the star studded Globe Trotters team. After skipper WV Raman (14) fell at 30, Kapoor and Hemang Badani (56) added 123 runs for the second wicket off 15 overs. A third wicket stand of 61 runs off 9.4 overs between Kapoor and Rajath Bhatia (52 not out) consolidated the position and Globe Trotters took the lead comfortably as play was extended by 47 minutes to make up for a late start due to rain. On the first day too 155 minutes play was lost due to rain. Globe Trotters finished at 268 for four off just 45 overs.

India Pistons had much the better of the honours against UFCC (T'Nagar) at the CPT-India Pistons ground. But they had to share two points each as even the first innings was not completed. Put in to bat, India Pistons' way of saying `thank you' was to run up a total of 399 for six declared off 90 overs on the first day. Vikram Rathour was in sparkling form. The former India opening batsman cracked 125 off just 105 balls with hits to the ropes before he was second out at 185 in the 36th over. The middle order was held together by Hemanth Kumar who hit an unbeaten 104 off 150 balls with three fours and a six. There were two century partnerships - 178 for the second wicket off 33.2 overs between Rathour and Sathyajit Medappa (58) and 122 runs for the fifth wicket off 24.4 overs between Hemanth Kumar and Reuben Paul (46). Openers Jesubabu Honeymen (59) and skipper MA Satheesh (60) gave UFCC (T) a good start putting on 84 runs off 29.5 overs. A middle order collapse however saw UFCC (T) rather precariously placed at 166 for six. But an unbroken seventh wicket partnership of 43 runs between KSM Iyer (30) and L Sivaramakrishnan (17) steered the team to safety as UFCC (T) held on for 91 overs to end at 209 for six.

Batting depth carried Vijay CC to first innings points against SPIC at the Guru Nanak college ground. Put in to bat, SPIC were restricted to 203 at the end of the first day. S Manoj top scored with 46. Despite a watchful 44 by opener Sunil Viswanathan, Vijay CC were five down for 115. But a sixth wicket partnership of 152 runs off 39.1 overs between Sunil Oasis (92) and skipper J Gokulakrishnan (87) steered Vijay CC past the SPIC score. Vijay CC were 299 for eight when stumps were finally drawn.