Kiwi Academy trounce Districts by innings

The New Zealand Cricket Academy completed a thumping innings and 11 run victory over Tamil Nadu Districts at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai today to enter the quarterfinals of the MRF-Buchi Babu all India invitation tournament in style.

After declaring at their overnight score of 382/8, the visitors from the Southern Hemisphere knocked over the Districts men for 212. The NZCA now go through to a quarterfinal clash against Hyderabad beginning August 20 at the Guru Nanak College Ground.

Only four batsmen topped double figures in Districts' second knock, Tamil Nadu Ranji Trophy player Vasant Saravanan top scoring with an enterprising 61 (78 balls, 8 fours, 2 sixes). Opener KN Riaz (30), middle order batsman S Saravanan (45) and tailender P Muthupandian (25) were the others to show some semblance of a fight.

For the Kiwis, left arm spinner Bruce Martin got the best purchase with figures of 4/63, while leg spinner Aaron Redmond complemented him well by grabbing 3/46. Redmond drove the final nail in the Districts coffin by having STD Kumar caught by his fellow wrecker Martin for seven in the 76th over of the innings.