GIC Re enhance semis hopes all India insurance cricket tourney

Mumbai, Nov 14 (UNI) GIC Reinsurer(Re) fashioned their second win to enhance their hopes of a semi-final berth in the 1st All India GIC Re Cup Cricket Tournament at the P J Hindu Gymkhana here today.

On a day that featured three centuries, hosts GIC Re romped to an emphatic 124-run win over Royal Sundaram, Chennai for their second win from as many matches in Group 'A'.

Man of the Match Chetan Shukla hit an unbeaten 136 and captain Shekhar Amberkar slammed an impressive 124 as they put on 255 runs for the third wicket to send Royal Sundaram crashing to their first defeat in two matches.

Man of the Match Mithu Pandiyal was the third centurion of the day when he scored 105 to help United India Assurance amass a mammoth 329 against IFFCO Tokio in Group 'D' at the adjacent Islam Gymkhana.

Pandiyal and Abhay Murgod, who struck a significant 87, were associated in a 142-run partnership for the third wicket.

IFFCO's Ronit Kantra snared 5 for 58, but his team were shot out for 110 as United India fashioned a fluent 219-run win in their opening tie.

New India Assurance and Oriental Insurance, Delhi also enhanced their chances of making the semi-finals after recording their second successive wins.

New India beat Bajaj Allianz by nine wickets in Group 'B' at the Sachivalaya Gymkhana, while Oriental beat Chola Mandalam by seven wickets in Group 'C' at the Parsee Gymkhana.

Brief Scores: At P J Hindu Gym: GIC Re 329 for 3 (Chetan Shukla 136 n o, Shekhar Amberkar 124, K V Vardhan 2-44) bt Royal Sundaram, Chennai 205 for 9 (Sachendra Raj 69, John Jiyu 2-14, Khandu Mahadeo 2-42, Haraji Hadal 2-13) by 124 runs. MoM: Chetan Shukla (GIC Re).

At Islam Gym: United India 329 all out (Mithu Pandiyal 105, Abhay Murgod 87, Ronit Kantra 5-58) bt IFFCO Tokio 110 all out (Sachin Jagtap 3-28, Jai Kumar 3-10, Mithu Pandiyal 2-13) by 219 runs. MoM: Mithu Pandiyal (United India).

At Parsee Gym: Chola Mandalam 155 (Vivek Salvi 55 n o, Siddharth Gawde 34; NIshant Sharma 3-47, Arun Yadav 2-27) lost to Oriental Insurance, Delhi 159 for 3 (Nishant Sharma 66, Jitendra Ingle 41 n o) by 7 wkts. MoM: Nishant Sharma (Oriental).

At Sachivalaya Gym: Bajaj Allianz 77 (Mangesh Darekar 3-15, Vishwas Gaikwad 3-17, Jagdish Shetty 3-22) lost to New India Assurance 78 for 1 (Mangesh Darekar 38 n o, Vishwas Gaikwad 26 n o) by 9 wkts.

MoM: Mangesh Darekar (New India).

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