Vijay will take on Globe Trotters in the day-night final of the VAP Trophy one-day cricket tournament at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium on Sunday.
In the semifinals here on Saturday, Vijay defeated Grand Slam by six wickets while Globe Trotters beat UFCC (T. Nagar) by seven wickets. Captain X. Thalaivan Sargunam showed the way for Trotters. With his team pursuing 276 for a place in the summit clash, Thalaivan, opening the innings, made an unbeaten 104 (128b, 6x4, 3x6).
Thalaivan and the left-handed M.S. Washington Sundar (66, 61b, 7x4) put on 93 in 93 deliveries for the opening wicket. Then, the Trotters skipper raised 154 runs in 132 balls for an unbeaten fourth wicket with another left-hander K. Shri Vasudevadas (86 not out, 66b, 1x4, 1x6).
Earlier, paceman Basil Thampi scalped four and seamer Sunil Sam claimed three wickets as Trotters restricted UFCC to 275 for eight.
R. Ananth made 115 (136b, 11x4) for UFCC that elected to bat. He added 94 runs in 128 balls with K. Varun Kumar (40) for the third wicket and then 77 in 79 deliveries with U. Sasidev (44) for the fourth.
Pace bowling all-rounder Vijay Shankar (four for 48) and seamer L. Vignesh (four for 46) struck vital blows as Vijay, opting to field, bowled out Grand Slam for 239.
V. Yo Mahesh, opening the innings, came up with an innings of 91 (121b, 10x4, 2x6) while skipper J. Kousik contributed 68 (73b, 5x4, 1x6).
Vijay was not stretched as it reached the target. Consistent left-handed opener Abhinav Mukund scored 56 (54b, 11x4) and skipper R. Prasanna remained 71 not out (79b, 7x4, 1x6) as Vijay romped home.
The scores:
Semifinals: At MRF-Pachaiyappa’s: UFCC (T. Nagar) 275 for eight in 50 overs (R. Ananth 115, K. Varun Kumar 40, U. Sasidev 44, Adithya Ganesh 40 n.o., Basil Thampi four for 55, Sunil Sam three for 48) lost to Globe Trotters 278 for three in 46.3 overs (M.S. Washington Sundar 66, X. Thalaivan Sargunam 104 n.o., K. Shri Vasudevadas 86 n.o.).
At IC-Guru Nanak: Grand Slam 239 in 50 overs (V. Yo Mahesh 91, J. Kousik 68, M. Ashwin 40, Vijay Shankar four for 48, L. Vignesh four for 46) lost to Vijay 243 for four in 45.2 overs (Abhinav Mukund 56, B. Aparajith 36, R. Prasanna 71 n.o.).
