Jolly Rovers miss victory by one run

The second round of the TNCA senior division league 2000-2001 was marked by several good batting and bowling performances, one keen duel for the first innings lead and one of the most exciting finishes seen in the league in recent times.

Good work by skipper Robin Singh and WD Balaji Rao helped India Pistons to successfully defend a modest score of 256 and gain first innings points against Alwarpet CC at the CPT-India Pistons ground. Batting first, India Pistons were all out on the first day. Satyajit Medappa (51) and S Satish (57) were the main run getters. There was one stand of note - 73 runs for the fifth wicket off 19.1 overs between Satish and Reuben Paul (39). KS Veeranan (5 for 50) and SS Sawal (4 for 81) were the successful bowlers. Alwarpet started off well and at one period, thanks in the main to opening batsman Vikram Kumar's 58 were 86 for one. Thereafter wickets fell at regular intervals. Robin Singh (4 for 43) and Balaji Rao (5 for 51) did almost all the damage as Alwarpet were all out for 177.

Star studded Globe Trotters walked away with first innings points for the second match in succession after their match against UFCC (T'Nagar) ended in a draw at the MAC stadium. Put in to bat, Globe Trotters rattled up 306 for eight off 81.3 overs before stumps on the first day. Former Indian players Aashish Kapoor (50 off 48 balls with ten fours and a six) and WV Raman (71 off 101 balls with ten fours and a six) put on 81 off 16 overs for the first wicket. The middle order was held together by an anchor like innings of 61 by Rajath Bhatia who batted 2-1/2 hours, faced 140 balls and hit six fours. UFCC (T) made a brave attempt to get near the Globe Trotters score but were all out for 246 in 89.4 overs. VB Aron top scored with 54 while there were useful contributions from opening batsman JJ Honeymen (47), V Kudawla (43) and KSM Iyer (42). But Z Khan (4 for 62) and Aashish Kapoor (3 for 74) got Globe Trotters a sizeable first innings lead.

Vijay CC comfortably took first innings points against Kohinoor XI at the Guru Nanak college grounds. Batting first, Kohinoor XI were all out for 185 with Shrinivas (4 for 42) and Karthik (4 for 76) being the main wicket takers. NM Khan, at No 7, top scored with 38. Veteran opener VB Chandrasekhar gave Vijay CC a fine start by cracking 54 off 101 balls with ten hits to the ropes. Still, Vijay were in a spot of bother at 83 for three. However S Sharath (101) and George John (73) steered them out of trouble and into a comfortable position with a fourth wicket partnership of 169 runs off 53.4 overs. John batted 3-1/2 hours, faced 154 balls and hit eleven fours. Sharath retired hurt shortly after completing his century. For his 101 he batted almost four hours, faced 183 balls and hit 13 fours and a six. Vijay CC were 307 for four declared off 102 overs when the match ended.

Making light of what seemed to be a difficult target, SPIC got first innings points against Mambalam Mosquitos at the SPIC-YMCA ground. Opting to bat first, Mambalam Mosquitos were all out for 275 on the first day. The highlight was the anchor knock played by opener S Arvind who scored 121. He batted 320 minutes, faced 263 balls and hit 16 fours before he was eighth out at 246 in the 87th over. With veteran PC Prakash (76) he added 127 runs for the fourth wicket off 42.5 overs after three wickets had gone down for 44 runs. Prakash who dominated the partnership faced 133 balls and hit eight fours and two sixes. Off spinner B Ramprakash, who shared the new ball attack, was the pick of the bowlers, finishing with six for 96 off 40.2 overs. SPIC lost their first wicket at 36 but LNP Reddy (72) and V Gautham (51) set them on the road towards their target with a second wicket stand of 93 runs off 27.2 overs. When they lost their fourth wicket at 183, SPIC did seem to be in a bit of bother but S Manoj (60) and Gnaneswara Rao (71) with a fifth wicket partnership of 107 runs off 19.4 overs steered SPIC past the Mambalam Mosquitos total. SPIC were 301 for six off 80 overs when stumps were finally drawn.

A keen duel for the first innings lead highlighted the match between Indian Bank and IOB at the AC Tech grounds. Put in to bat, IOB were all out for 244 off 73.1 overs shortly before stumps on the first day. That was much less than what they would have hoped for when they were 214 for four. Vikram Mani (38) and S Nair who top scored with 74 off 116 balls with ten hits to the ropes added 111 runs for the second wicket. Then SV Saravanan (54) kept the middle order intact before K Velmurugan (5 for 81) and HS Sodhi (3 for 53) caused a collapse during which the last six wickets fell for 30 runs. Indian Bank too made a good start. Opener KN Riaz played the anchor role and for his 66 occupied the crease for almost five hours. He faced 222 balls and hit only four boundaries. At 123 for three, following a fourth wicket partnership of 64 runs off 25.4 overs between Riaz and Kumara Guru (29) the IOB total seemed to be well within Indian Bank's reach. Thereafter wickets fell at regular intervals and Indian Bank fell 19 runs short of the IOB total.

The most exciting match of the season so far was the one between Jolly Rovers and Southern Railway at the latter's ground. Opting to bat first, Southern Railway were dismissed for 152 with Ramkumar being the most successful bowler with four for 38. Jolly Rovers, sensing a chance of an outright victory, went for quick runs and declared at 271 for five declared off 64.4 overs. Sujith Somasundar got his second successive century hitting 106 off 166 balls with eight fours and three sixes. With TR Arasu (51) he put on 90 runs for the first wicket off 25.5 overs and then with S Badrinath (72 not out off 113 balls with six fours and a six) he added 120 runs for the second wicket off 30.3 overs. In arrears by 119 runs, Southern Railway were all out for 158 off 64 overs in their second innings. Ramkumar made it seven for the match with a haul of three for 52. This left Jolly Rovers four overs to get the required 40 runs for victory. But they fell short by the narrowest possible margin by ending up with 39 for three with Somasundar being run out while going for the winning run.