SPIC TNCA XI poised to clinch title
Chennai, Aug 31 (UNI) Local outfit SPIC-TNCA XI were poised to clinch the title in the Mindteck Buchibabu All India cricket tournament here tomorrow.
At the end of the second day today, Combined Districts, following on with a deficit of 190 runs, had scored 129 for seven in 23 overs.
The second innings is restricted to 45 overs and the Districts had to make another 61 runs to make SPIC-TNCA bat again.
Earlier, replying to SPIC-TNCA's 415 for six, Districts collapsed from a position of strength to be all out for 225 in 67 overs. At one stage, they were 155 for two in 47 overs, before they crumbled to 225, losing the last eight wickets for 70 runs in 20 overs.
V Devendran (57, 65 balls, 8x4, 1x6) and K Varun Kumar (34, 108 balls, 5x4) added 90 for the first wicket in 25 overs. The exit of both the openers in the space of five put the team in a spot of bother.
However, R Srinivasan (33, 96 balls, 3x4) and Skipper R Satish (37, 43 balls, 6x4) steaded the innings with a 60-run third wicket stand in 17.1 overs. Once they were separated, the rest of the innings caved in as medium pacer M R Shrinivas (4 for 47) and off-spinner R Ashwin (3 for 61) struck in tandem.
When Districts followed on, Devendran was again among the runs scoring 41 off 31 balls with three sixes and two fours. However, none of the other batsmen failed to come good and the team was facing certain defeat. Left arm spinner C Suresh did the trick claiming five wickets for 40 runs bowling eight overs unchanged.
Brief Scores: SPIC-TNCA XI 415 for six Vs Combined Districts 225 all out in 67 overs (V Devendran 57, K Varunkumar 34, R Srinivasan 33, R Satish 37, M R Shrinivas 4 for 47, R Ashwin 3 for 61) and 129 for seven in 23 overs (V Devendran 41, S Suresh kumar 25 batting, C Suresh 5 for 40).
UNI GV DH GC1825