Lucknow Whites score easy win in Shukla cricket

LUCKNOW: Lucknow Whites scored a convincing sevenwicket win against Kalpana Sports to collect full points in the Surya Kali Shukla Memorial Cricket Tournament, at the Pt Raas Bihari Tewari Stadium here on Friday.

While chasing 142 to win in stipulated 35 overs, Lucknow Whites romped home in 19 overs. Opener Saurabh Kumar struck highest 49, which came off 51 balls with the help of nine hits to the fence.

Avinesh (29*, 19b, 6x4) and Vishal Kashyap (25, 16b, 5x4) also made useful contributions. Seamer Dharmendra Prasad remained the most successful bowler for Lucknow Whites, bagging three for 26. Siddhant and Avinesh took two wickets each.

Earlier, batting first after winning the toss, Lucknow Whites had a shaky start, losing three quick wickets for just 14 in 4.4 overs.

But a 60-run fourth-wicket partnership between Himanshu Mishra (39, 76b, 5x4) and Robin Rathore (42, 52b, 7x4) steadied the innings then. For Kalpana Sports, Raju Kumar, Prashant and Deepak shared three wickets between them.

AGHA EXCELS

Agha Shahid took three for 17 as North East Railways (NER) scored a thumping eight-wicket win against HQ Lekha in a league match of the RDSO InterOffice Cricket Tournament, at the RDSO Ground here on Friday.

Agha’s magical spell left HQ Lekha struggling for runs before being restricted for 118 for seven in 20 overs.

Barring Saurabh Saxena (43, 38b, 2x4, 2x6) and Piyush Kusumwal (33, 44b, 4x4), none other could show any resistance before the NER bowlers.

In reply, it turned out to be mere formality for NER as they walked home in 13.3 overs, losing just two wickets. Their batsmen made merry of HQ Lekha bowlers on a placid strip.

Opener Haider Raza smashed 26-ball 46 with the help of eight fours and a six, whereas Javed Anwar made 37-ball 36, which contained three fours and a six.

Agha Shahid remained unbeaten for 26 in 14 balls with the help of two fours and two sixes.

Piyush Kusumwal took two for 18 for HQ Lekha, while Prateek Tewari had one for 29.