Abhinav helps HT enter semis
LUCKNOW : An all-round performance by captain Abhinav Shukla helped defending champions Hindustan Times enter semi-finals of the SBI Media Cup Twenty20 Tournament, crushing Photo Journalists XI by 92 runs, at the KD Singh ‘Babu’ Stadium here on Thursday.
Now on Friday, HT play against Electronics Media XI, which defeated Dainik Jagran by 22 runs in VJD method after rain interrupted the play thrice. While batting first after winning the toss, Dainik Jagran scored 130 in 19.5 overs, and in reply, Electronics Media XI were 88/3 in 10.2 overs when rain finally stopped play.
Earlier, leading from the front, Shukla first hammered 52-ball 67 with the help of 10 hits to the fence to help HT post 138/7 in 20 overs while batting first after winning the toss, and then took 2/12 to see Photo Journalists XI, collapsing for paltry 46 in 12.3 overs.
Offie Rohit Singh (3/8), Dileep Pandey (2/6) and Manish Singh (2/18) also bowled well.
Once again it wasn’t a good start for HT as they lost two quick wickets for 27 in four overs. But a 75-run third wicket stand between Shukla and veteran Sharad Deep (20, 25b, 2x4) guided the side seize the initiative. Later Rohit Singh and Manish Singh contributed 12 runs each. For losers, Sharad Shukla bagged 4/24.
BRIEF SCORES Hindustan Times 138/7 in 20 overs (Abhinav Shukla 67, Sharad deep 20, Sharad Shukla 4/24) beat Photo Journalists
XI 46 in 12.3 overs (Amir Raza 13, Rohit Singh 3/8, Dileep Pandey 2/6, Abhinav Shukla 2/12, Manish Singh 2/18).
VARUN HITS TON
Continuing his good show with willow, young Varun Pratap Singh on Thursday smashed an unbeaten century to help Dhruv Sports Promotion (DSP) rout Champions League Club (CLC) by 10 wickets to collect full points in the 2nd Gaurav Mehta Memorial League, at the Aryavart Ground here.
Singh struck 14 fours and two sixes to score unbeaten 106 in just 68 balls, whereas fellow opener hit 74-ball 70 with the help of eight fours as the two took the side home in 23.3 overs without being separated while chasing 187 in 40 overs. BRIEF SCORES CLC 186/6 in 40 overs
(Swapnil Kusumwal 102, Apporv 29, Harshit Tewari 2/27) lost to DSP 188/0 in 23.3 overs (Varun Pratap Singh 102*, Amit Sharma 70*).
BADMINTON CAMP
The Sports Authority of India on Thursday sanctioned national camp to the Indian para-badminton team with immediate effect till March 31, at the UP Badminton Academy here. There would be seven shuttlers and eight support staff.