KSCA teams stage fightback

Looking down and seemingly out of contention, KSCA teams came up with scintillating performances on the third and penultimate day of the semifinals but their opponents still held an edge in the KSCA all-India invitational Dr K Thimmappaiah memorial tournament here at the Alur grounds on Saturday.

At Alur (2), having conceded a huge 229-run lead to National Cricket Academy, KSCA President’s XI produced stellar batting show to provide their bowlers a chance to make a match of it.

Pawan Deshpande slammed 108 (135b, 10x4) while Abrar Kazi struck an unbeaten 79-ball 72 as President’s XI amassed 411 for nine in 95.4 overs at close of play.
Nidish M (60) and Anirudha Joshi (49) were the other major contributors as the hosts built a lead of 182 runs with a wicket to go.

Chirag Khurana was the wrecker in chief for NCA, bagging 5/79.   

In the other semifinal, KSCA Colts, who had conceded 159-run lead to Haryana CA, reduced the visitors to 114 for five in the second innings to raise some hopes going into Sunday’s final day. Haryana now enjoy an overall lead of 273 runs with five more wickets to spare.

Colts will have to polish off the innings quickly to nurse any hopes of an improbable win.

Brief scores (At Alur 2): KSCA President’s XI: 214 all out in 54.1 overs  and 411/9 in 95.4 overs (Nidish M 60, Suneel Raju 36, Pawan Deshpande 108, Anirudha Joshi 49, Abrar Kazi 72 n.o.; Chirag Khurana 5-79, Deepak Chahar 2-82) vs National Cricket Academy: 443 all out in 94.2 overs.

At Alur (1): Haryana CA: 405 all out in 97 overs and 114/5 in 26 overs (Sachin Rana 48, R Dalal 37 n.o.; Prasidh Krishna 2-32, Gowtham K 2-45) vs KSCA Colts: 246 all out in 80.1  overs (Dinesh Borwankar 35, Gowtham K 40, Suchith J 47; Ashish Hooda 2-30, Jayant Yadav 4-89, Harshal Patel 3-48).