ZCA North emerge winners

ZCA North finished with 13 points to lift the all-India NCA inter-zonal under-16 title and the Hanumant Singh Trophy after the final day of their three-day clash against President’s XI was washed out without a ball being bowled at the JIRS ground on Friday.

With not even the first innings of both teams completed, the sides shared the points equally, helping North finish well clear of ZCA South and ZCA West, who both ended up with eight points apiece.

President’s XI had reached 146 for five in their first innings in response to North’s 373 all out by the end of the second day. North finished with two outright wins in the six-team round-robin competition, and were deserved winners.

South, meanwhile, grabbed the first-innings honours in their drawn encounter with ZCA East at the Chinnaswamy stadium.

Overnight 49 for three chasing South’s 259, East’s resistance ended at 194 as they ended up conceding a 65-run lead to the home side.

Pappu Singh top-scored with 70 and Vivek Singh contributed 44, but East were undone by Bharath Sankar, who picked up four for 46. South finished at 141 for four in their second essay when the match was called off.

At the RWF ground, ZCA West snatched a narrow 19-run lead over Central. Resuming at 222 for two in reply to Central’s 319 for eight declared, West lost overnight batsman Aakarshit Gomel (90) early in the day, but useful contributions down the order helped them reach 338 before they were bowled out. Akhil Lamba and Mihir Hirwani took four wickets apiece for Central.

DH News Service
Brief scores: At Chinnaswamy stadium: ZCA South: 259 all out in 138.3 overs and 141/4 in 15 overs (Sanju Samson 70 n.o.) drew ZCA East: 194 all out in 113.4 overs (Pappu Singh 70, Vivek Singh 44; Bharath Sankar 4-46).

At RWF ground: ZCA Central: 319/8 decl in 93 overs and 97/2 in 23.5 overs (Rakshan Faraz 51, Almas Saukat 42) drew ZCA West: 338 all out in 136.1 overs (Aakarshit Gomel 90, Akhil Hirwadkar 62, Vijay Zol 38, Snell Patel 39, Nikhil Naik 35; Akhil Lamba 4-79 ,Mihir Hirwani 4-36).

At JIRS ground: ZCA North: 373 all out in 136.5 overs drew President’s XI: 146/5 in 50 overs.(Jay Pandey 54 n.o.; Nitin Basoya 4-34).
Final standings: ZCA North (13 pts) 1; ZCA South, ZCA West (both 8) 2-3; ZCA Central (7) 4; ZCA East, President’s XI (both 5) 5-6.