India Pistons registered its first outright win of the season, overwhelming Indian Overseas Bank by an innings and 34 runs, on the final day of a fourth-round match in the TNCA first division cricket league at the CPT-IP ground here.
Starting the day on 26 for one, IOB applied itself to the task and looked set to escape with a draw. The team's fortunes nosedived, though, as it lost seven wickets for 33 runs in under an hour to be bowled out for 208.
The spin combine of A.C. Prathiban (five for 63) and M. Ashwin (five for 80) skittled out the IOB middle-order with only opener L.N. Prasad Reddy (44, 4x4) and skipper Robert Fernandes (40, 7x4) showing some fight.
At RKM-Viveka, Aruna's Thakalli Aravind (116 n.o., 192b, 11x4, 1x6) and M. Bilvaprasath (58 not out, 7x4, 1x6) put on a sixth wicket partnership of 124 to ensure first innings honours against UFCC (T. Nagar). Varun Anand (73, 237b, 9x4) and M.R. Muthupandi (46, 5x4) played vital knocks as well.
Jolly Rovers conceded five points to Grand Slam after being bowled out for 266 at IIT-Chemplast. Resuming on 141 for two, Rovers was pegged back by a diligent bowling unit spearheaded by Palani Amarnath (four for 42). Wicketkeeper R. Rohit pouched five catches for Grand Slam while K.H. Gopinath (71, 6x4) batted well for Rovers.
Vijay dug deep to avoid defeat after Young Stars declared its innings closed on 364 for eight. Captain Vijay Shankar (61, 65b, 5x4, 4x6) extended his prolific run in this year's competition, adding 88 with V. Maaruthi Raghav (40 n.o., 6x4). There were useful contributions from K. Varun Kumar (42, 5x4) and B. Aparajith (45, 5x4) too.
Propelled by a third-wicket stand of 168 between K. Sriram (94, 184b, 14x4) and Rohan Prem 76 (7x4, 1x6), Falcon overhauled ICF's first innings total of 318 with considerable ease. The left-handed Sreekumar Nair (66 n.o., 7x4, 1x6) came up with a useful knock. Stumper M. Kamalesh snapped up five catches for ICF.
Indian Bank off-spinner M.O. Arjun Sarathy (six for 82) put the spanner in Globe Trotters' attempts to gain the first innings honours by bowling it out for 215. Opener X. Thalaivan Sargunam (76, 251b, 9x4) resisted stoutly before he was last out.
The scores (round four, day three): At CPT-IP: India Pistons 364 for seven decl. bt IOB 122 & 208 in 71 overs (L.N. Prasad Reddy 44, Robert Fernandes 40, M. Ashwin five for 80, A.C. Prathiban five for 63). Points: India Pistons 8, IOB 0.
At IC-Guru Nanak: Vijay 199 & 219 for four in 61 overs (B. Aparajith 45, K. Varun Kumar 42, V. Maaruthi Raghav 40 n.o., Vijay Shankar 61) drew with Young Stars 364 for eight decl. in 104 overs (T. Dushyant 92, V. Subramania Siva 138). Young Stars 5, Vijay 2.
At IIT-Chemplast: Grand Slam 372 in 137 overs drew with Jolly Rovers 266 (incl. five penalty runs) in 94.3 overs (M. Vijay 41, K.H. Gopinath 71, P. Amarnath four for 42). Grand Slam 5, Jolly Rovers 2.
At Murugappa: ICF 318 drew with Falcon 319 for six decl. in 115.1 overs (K. Sriram 94, Rohan Prem 76, Sreekumar Nair 66 n.o). Falcon 5, ICF 2.
At RKM-Viveka: UFCC (T. Nagar) 399 for nine decl. drew with Aruna 405 for five in 117.5 overs (Varun Anand 73, Thakalli Aravind 116 n.o., M.R. Muthupandi 46, M. Bilvaprasath 58 n.o.). Aruna 5, UFCC (T. Nagar) 2.
At MRF-Pachaiyappa's: Indian Bank 302 and 94 for five in 40 overs drew with Globe Trotters 215 in 84.2 overs (X. Thalaivan Sargunam 76, Y. Gnaneswara Rao 44, M.O. Arjun Sarathy six for 82). Indian Bank 5, Globe Trotters 2.
