Rain plays spoilsport in JP Atray Cricket

Chandigarh, Sep 18 (UNI) On the second day of the 15th All-India JP Atray Memorial Cricket tournament for Pearls Trophy, rain once again intervened and forced the organisers to abandon the match after lunch with no respite in the drizzle.

Oil and Natural Gas Coporation, who were playing the second match, shared points with deubtants Assam.

ONGC won the toss and elected to bat. Openers Radhey Shyan and Sandeep Sharma were associated in an opening wicket partnership of 91 runs before the latter was caught plumb in front of the wicket to the bowling of right arm medium pacer Vikrant Yadav. He made 58 in 56 balls and hit 10 fours and a six.

Radhey Shyam was then joined by wicketkeeper Ajay Ratra and the two took the total to 134 when Ajay Ratra was caught at deep square leg by Sakia of the bowling of left arm spinner Prakash Bhagat for 27.

Skipper Gagan Khoda did not stay long and was consumed by left arm spinner Bhagat when he hold out to long on where he was easily lapped up by Yadav. Veteran Rizwan Shamshad (21) was the next to go at 192. Radhey Shyam (66, 4x4s, 1x6) was the 6th man out at the total of 196. Former test star Sarandeep Singh (15) and Test star Munaf Patel (16 not out) took the total to 232 for 7 in 43 overs.

The 50-over game was reduced to 43 over due to interruption on account of rain at 1131 hrs with ONGC score reading at 137 for 2 in 28 overs. The match was resumed at 1245 hrs and the overs were rescheduled to 43 overs each side. After lunch the match could not be completed due to continuous drizzle. It was called off at 1547 hrs. The teams split points.

Brief scores: ONGC: 232 for 7 in 43 overs (Radhey Shyam 66, Sandeep Sharma 58, Ajay Ratra 27 Rijwan Shamshad 21, Vikrant Yadav 3 for 53, Prakash Bhagat 2 for 32, Tejinder Singh 2 for 49).

Tomorrow LIC Cricket Club will meet Rajasthan Cricket Club at Sector 16 Cricket Stadium. Other fixture: Moody ICL vs AIR India at St John's School Sector 26 Chandigarh.

UNI XC PS MMS1953