JOIN USKSCA XI enter final
KSCA XI notched up a crucial win over Bangladesh ‘A’ in their final group match to make it to the final of the all-India invitational tournament for the Safi Darashah Trophy at Alur grounds on Thursday.
On the fourth and final day of the match, K Gowtham repeated his first innings effort with the ball as KSCA XI registered a comprehensive 115-run win over visitors and set up title clash with the formidable Mumbai Cricket Association beginning Saturday. Chasing 355 for win, Bangla crashed to 199 all out with Gowtham claiming six for 49. The off-spinner had claimed six for 74 in the first innings.
Despite the win, KSCA were tied with KSCA Colts on nine points but a poor wicket-rate (0.92) cost the latter a place in the final.
The Colts were also done in by the inclement weather which robbed much of the action in their last league match against Baroda Cricket Association. The third day’s play went off without a ball being bowled while the last day saw only a few hours of play as the match ended without two innings being completed.
Chasing Colts’ first innings total of 279/9 declared, Baroda were 144/4 when play the proceedings were called off at 2.00 pm due to rain. As a result Colts had to be content with one point that tied them with KSCA XI.
Mumbai were head and shoulders above the rest in the Mysore leg of the tournament. The traditional powerhouse of the Indian cricket logged 14 points from their league fixtures, well ahead of the second-placed Rajasthan CA (7 points), to sail into the final.
Brief scores: At Alur (1): KSCA XI: 284 all out in 89.1 overs and 284/7 decl in 66.4 overs vs Bangladesh ‘A’: 214 all out in 68.5 overs and 199 all out in 58.4 overs (Md Imrul Kayes 45, Md Nayeem Islam 88; K Gowtham 6-49). KSCA XI: 5 points; Bangladesh ‘A’: 0 point.
At BGS: KSCA Colts: 279/9 decl in 100.3 overs vs Baroda CA: 144/4 in 39.2 overs (Aditya Waghmode 52, Ambati Rayudu 37 n.o.; Sunil N Raju 2-39) KSCA Colts: 1; Baroda CA: 1.
In Mysore (SJCE): KSCA President’s XI: 278 all out in 90 overs and 298/5 in 85 overs (Karun Nair 111, Kunal Kapoor 88, Robin Uthappa 61 n.o.; Ashish Reddy 2-33, M Hasan 2-92) drew Hyderabad CA: 585 all out in 157.5 overs. Hyderabad: 3; KSCA President’s XI: 1.
In Gangothri Glades: Rajasthan Cricket Association Academy: 277 all out in 83.3 overs and 121/2 in 39 overs (Vineet Saxena 46, Vaibhav Deshpande 51) vs Mumbai CA: 640 all out in 166.5 overs (Neelakant 110 n.o., Iqbal Abdulla 29; Deepak Chahar 3-113, Raman Chahar 5-108, Gagandeep Singh 2-158). Mumbai CA: 3; Rajasthan CA: 1.
Team standings after group stages: Group ‘A’: KSCA XI (9 points) 1; KSCA Colts (9 points) 2; Baroda CA (3 points) 3; Bangladesh ‘A’ (3 points) 4.
Group ‘B’: Mumbai Cricket Association (14 points) 1; Rajasthan CA (7 points) 2; Hydereabad CA (4 points) 3; KSCA President’s XI (2 points) 4.
KSCA XI qualified on better wicket rate.