Young Stars defeated Grand Slam by five wickets on day three in a tense, low-scoring duel to reach the semifinals of the TNCA Elite Group first division competition here on Monday.
On the final day of the league phase, Vijay (26 points), Alwarpet (20), Jolly Rovers (19), and Young Stars (19) advanced to the last four stage. The dates for the knock-out matches will be announced later.
In the Plate Division, India Pistons (21) and IOB (19) have entered the final (there will be no semifinals in this category). In a close race, IOB, AG’s Office and UFCC (T. Nagar) finished on the same number of points. IOB, however, progressed on a better run quotient of 1.5713.
ADVERTISEMENT
Aruna (18) and Southern Railway Institute (5) have been relegated from the first division.
K. Martin Sanjeev’s 76 (94b, 9x4, 2x6) and an unbeaten 33 from K. Srikar Bharat — the two raised 98 for the second wicket in 26.4 overs — enabled Young Stars nail a tricky chase against Grand Slam. This is the third time in five years that Young Stars have qualified for the semifinals.
K.H. Gopinath’s 213 (248b, 18x4, 2x6) and his 241-run third-wicket association with Robin Bist (105, 142b, 10x4, 1x6) in 47.2 overs enabled Rovers declare at 523 for seven to gain a lead of 205 against Globe Trotters (Trotters finished fifth with 16 points).
ADVERTISEMENT
Left-arm spinner Prashanth K. Varma’s five for 110 notwithstanding Vijay took a 111-run lead over Alwarpet. Alwarpet was 136 for five in its second innings; M. Bilwa Prasath notched up 64 (132b, 6x4, 1x6). Vijay paceman L. Vignesh took his season’s tally to 25.
In the Plate Division, AG’s Office left-arm spinner R. Alexander claimed eight for 57 (he finished with 25 wickets in the season) against Aruna to give his side five points. Earlier, Aruna slumped from 171 for one to 288 all out in its first innings.
With leg-spinner M. Ashwin scalping five, India Pistons defeated Southern Railway Institute by an innings and 28 runs. And wicket-keeper batsman Vishnu Vinod’s 104 (137b, 9x4, 2x6) gave IOB a vital lead over UFCC.
The scores: Round five, Day Three: Elite Group: At IIT-Chemplast: Globe Trotters 318 drew with Jolly Rovers 523 for seven decl. in 120 overs (M. Vijay 54, K.H. Gopinath 213, Robin Bist 105). Points: Rovers 5, Trotters 2 .
At IC-Guru Nanak: Alwarpet 168 & 136 for five in 56 overs (M. Bilwa Prasad 64) drew with Vijay 279 in 99.1 overs (B. Aparajith 107, M. Kaushik Gandhi 65, Prashanth K. Varma five for 110). Vijay 5, Alwarpet 2 .
At Kalpathi-SSN: Grand Slam 93 & 205 lost to Young Stars 141 & 159 for five in 49.1 overs (K. Martin Sanjeev 76). Young Stars 8, Grand Slam 0 .
Plate Group: At Murugappa: AG’s Office 379 for nine decl. drew with Aruna 288 in 132 overs (S. Siddharth 83, Akshay V. Srinivasan 73, Akkil Srinaath 47, Abhishek Tanwar 43 n.o., R. Alexander eight for 57). AG’s Office 5, Aruna 2 .
At CPT-IP: Southern Railway Institute 168 & 137 in 56.3 overs (M. Ashwin five for 34) lost to India Pistons 333 for five decl. Pistons 8, SRI 0 .
At SPIC-YMCA: UFCC (T. Nagar) 220 drew with IOB 222 for three in 60 overs (Vishnu Vinod 104). IOB 5; UFCC 2 .