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Madhya Pradesh clinches title

By Our Sports Reporter

The Madhya Pradesh team that won the under-25 inter-zonal knockout cricket tournament in Bangalore on Tuesday.

BANGALORE April 22. Madhya Pradesh clinched the inaugural BCCI Under-25 inter-zonal tournament trophy at the Chinnaswamy Stadium here on Tuesday.

In the final that concluded in a draw, Madhya Pradesh emerged champions by virtue of its 258-run first innings lead over Tamil Nadu. At close, Tamil Nadu posted a second innings score of 214 for three after following on as its first innings yielded only 178 runs while chasing Madhya Pradesh's 436.

Madhya Pradesh was assured of the trophy as the Tamil Nadu first innings continued to falter after resuming at the overnight 116 for six.

Seamer Ashok Sharma (five for 47) trapped Anand George and castled Ganapathy who shouldered arms while wicket-keeper batsman Vikram Mani's (33 n.o.) unbeaten 112-minute vigil proved futile. The Tamil Nadu first innings folded up in 60.1 overs and failed to clear the follow-on hurdle of 287.

Madhya Pradesh skipper Yogesh Golwalkar promptly enforced the follow-on and in a tale of a revival that proved late, the Tamil Nadu batsmen gave a better account in their second innings.

However, their efforts did have a silver lining as they foiled Madhya Pradesh's dreams of an innings victory.

The Tamil Nadu top-order sported a change as an indisposed Vidyuth Sivaramakrishnan rested while Vikram Mani walked out as an opener along with Jesu Babu Honeyman.

Vidyuth is scheduled to join the Tamil Nadu Ranji squad for the forthcoming semifinal clash against Delhi.

Vikram Mani (30) and Jesu Babu Honeyman (55) shared a 89-run partnership that helped Tamil Nadu breathe easy. Vikram Mani played the sheet-anchor role while Jesu Babu often freed his arms and forced the pace.

Jesu Babu registered his fifty with a huge six off Amal Kokje that landed in the upper tier of the KSCA Clubhouse. However, Jesu Babu's progress was immediately stalled by Kokje's sharp reflex catch in his follow-through after the Tamil Nadu opener had launched into a full-blooded drive.

The middle-order of Noorul Riaz (36 n.o.), R. Prasanna (29) and skipper R. Satish (53 n.o.) helped Tamil Nadu progress to 214 for three before draw of stumps.

Noorul, strong off his legs, continued to whip seamer Shantanu Pitre past mid-wicket while Satish played with deft footwork and a broad bat to quell the wares peddled by spinners Yogesh Golwalkar and Amal Kokje. However, their efforts only salvaged some pride for Tamil Nadu while the trophy rested firmly in Madhya Pradesh's grasp.

The scores (final): Madhya Pradesh 436 in 146.2 overs drew with Tamil Nadu 178 in 60.1 overs (Noorul Riaz 52, Vikram Mani 33 n.o., Ashok Sharma five for 47) and 214 for three in 57 overs (Jesu Babu Honeyman 55, R. Satish 53 n.o., Noorul Riaz 36 n.o., Vikram Mani 30, R. Prasanna 29).

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