Bowlers help ESP enter quarterfinals

LUCKNOW : Ishan Gupta bowled a fine spell to take four wickets, whereas Rishabh Sharma and Naveen Kumar Bharti shared four wickets between them as Eklavya Sports Promotion (ESP) beat Nadeem Cricket Academy (NCA) by five wickets to make it to the quarterfinals of the 1st Independence Trophy, at the NER Stadium here on Thursday.

Ishan took 4/17, whereas Rishabh and Naveen took two wickets each, conceding 16 and 18 runs, respectively as NCA collapsed for paltry 85 in 23.2 overs after being sent to bat first. Saad (29, 41b, 2x6) and Shivansh Nigam (21, 33b, 1x4) were the main run getters for the losers.

In reply, opener Adil Pasha struck 55-ball 43 with the help of five hits to the fence as ESP romped home in 24.2 overs, losing five wickets. Nadeep took 3/11, whereas Saud Khan had 2/6.

In other pre-quarters, Gurman Cricket Academy defeated ASCA Indians by five wickets. After skittling out rivals for 88 in 20 overs, GCA reached home in 18.3 overs.

SELECTED

Mansi Singh, a trainee under the Khelo India scheme at the UP Badminton Academy here has been selected in the Indian squad for the South Asian Under-21 Regional Badminton Championship, beginning Saturday in Maldives.

TRIALS

The Deen Dayal Upadhyay State Football Tournament is scheduled to begin at Varanasi on October 11. Selection of the Lucknow team will be held on Ocober 7 and 8, at the Chowk Stadium here at 3.00 p.m.