SPIC TNCA XI, Andhra, Combined Districts,Gujarat in semis

Chennai, Aug 24 (UNI) SPIC TNCA XI and Andhra set up a semi-final clash after the former defeating Vidharba by nine wickets and the latter defeating Madhya Pradesh by 74 runs, respectively in the third and the final round of the league phase in Mindtek Buchi Babu All India invitation tournament here today.

Another local team Combined Districts XI upset Hyderabad to qualify for the semi-finals registering a six wicket win scoring the target of 115 in 45 overs losing four wickets and needing 22.2 overs.

Gujarat became the fourth team to qualify topping its group with a 179 run win over Kerala. The latter chasing a big target of 327 in 45 overs could score only 147 losing five wickets. Rohan Prem top scored for them with 36 off 70 balls with two fours.Gujarat scored 262 for 4 in their second knock riding on fine knocks by left handers Hem Joshipura (87,107 balls, four fours) and Parthi Patel (68, 62 balls, eight fours).

The former champions SPIC TNCA XI chasing a meagre target of 152 in 45 overs, reached the score losing just one wicket, in 26 overs.

S Vidhyut 70 not out off 68 balls including nine fours and two sixes and C Hemant Kumar 52 not out off 73 balls with the help of seven fours carved out the easy victory for SPIC. The two also added 117 runs off 22.2 overs in an unbeaten stand for the second wicket. SPIC collecting eight more points , topped the group to qualify for the knock out semis.

In another final round league match, Andhra, who scored 219 for 5 in 4 overs in their second innings powered by an unbeaten 101 off 132 balls with ten fours, by T Gyaneswara Rao, set Madhya Pradesh a daunting task of 330 and restricted them to 256 ofr 8 in the allotted 45 overs. Monesh Misra (40, 38 balls, five fours), Brijesh Tomar (40, 50 balls, three fours), Murtuza Ali (44, 45 balls, three fours, two sixes) and Sunil Dhoolpure(78 n.0, 71 balls, nine fours) tried to carry the fight into the enemy camp, but failed.

Brijesh and Tomar put on 71 runs for the fourth wicket in 11.3 overswhile Muirtuza and Dholpure added 92 for the sixth off 13.4 overs.Andhra's medium pacer D Kalyan claimed 3 for 39 to be the most successful bowler.

Earlier, Gyaneswar Rao added 132 runs for the fourth wicket in 27 overs with V Sandeep (60, 76 balls, four fours).

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