Tejinder Singh ensures Railways' win over ACA

Indian Railways denied an outside chance for Andhra Cricket Association XI to enter the semifinals by recording a 3 wicket win over the former at the AOL ground in Hyderabad on Saturday. At the start of the sixth round of matches India Pistons had to lose the encounter with Indian Oil Corporation by at least 100 runs and ACA to enter the semifinals had to defeat Indian Railways by the same margin.

Electing to bat, the Andhra Cricket Association innings was soon in disarray, losing four wickets with only 47 on board in 18.3 overs. Then Venugopal Rao in the company of RVC Prasad defied the Railways' attack for an 83 run fifth wicket stand in 13.5 overs. But after their departure the rest of the ACA batsmen could not manage to stick around and ended their innings at 155 for nine.

Railways lost an early wicket that of Sanjay Bangar (5) to Panav Raju, the other opener Tejinder Singh (58) ensured that his team was on the right track with a 81 run second wicket partnership in 12 overs. VJT Rammohan then (4 for 48) triggered a minor collapse. But with only a small total on the board, Railways reached home safely in the 33rd over with 3 wickets to spare.