NER, Nagpur off to a fine start in Lakshya Trophy

LUCKNOW: Local outfits North Eastern Railway (NER) and Nagpur launched their campaign in the 5th All India Lakshya Twenty20 Champions Trophy, notching up convincing wins, at the NER Ground in Gorakhpur on Thursday.

NER crushed CAG by nine wickets in the opening match of the day, whereas Nagpur defeated Cricket Association Uttarakhand by 48 runs in other match of the day.

In a rain curtailed encounter, CAG piled up 95/4 in 10 overs after being sent to bat first with opener Amit Gautham scoring highest 45, which came off 29 balls with the help of two fours and three sixes.

In reply, Upendra Yadav smacked an unbeaten 18-ball 44, which contained five fours and two sixes, to help NER reach home with eight balls to spare.

Saurabh Dubey made 34 in 12 balls with the help of two fours and four sixes, whereas opener Ashish Yadav also remained unbeaten at 19 in 20 balls.

In the second match of the day, riding on an unbeaten knock of 40, which came off 18 balls with the help of three fours and equal number of sixes by Vaibhav Chandekhar, Nagpur posted 103/5 in 10 overs. Opener Robin Singh made 26 with five fours. Pradeep took 2/19 for CAU.

The run chase never looked easy for the CAU as they after losing opener Rajesh Tangri on duck, kept losing wickets like nine pins before being bundled out for paltry 55 in 9.1 overs.

Gaurav Barabde remained the wreacker-in-chief for the winners, bagging four wickets for just 10 in two overs, which included a maiden.

Giving him staunch- support was pacer Karim, who finished with 3/9 also in two overs.

Due to the on going rainy situation, four matches would be played on Friday, whereas the semi-finals are slated for Saturday.

IN REPLY, UPENDRA YADAV SMACKED AN UNBEATEN 18-BALL 44, WHICH CONTAINED FIVE FOURS AND TWO SIXES, TO HELP NER REACH HOME WITH EIGHT BALLS TO SPARE