The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : NCA is champion

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Aug 31, 2005

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Sport - Cricket

NCA is champion

Sports Reporter

BANGALORE: The National Cricket Academy (NCA) emerged champion in the KSCA All India Invitation MRF Trophy tournament that concluded at the Chinnaswamy Stadium here on Tuesday. In the final, NCA defeated Indian Airlines by 122 runs.

Chasing 374 in the stipulated 40-over second innings, Indian Airlines struggled to keep pace with an asking rate of 9.35 runs per over. Laxman's 69 (43b, 5x4, 2x6) and Rajat Bhatia's 70 (99b, 2x4) lent hope but eventually Indian Airlines got grounded and scored 251 for seven in 40 overs.

The chase trundled along as openers Deepak Joon (20) and M.S. Biswal (19) after the initial flourish, succumbed to Anand Rajan. Laxman stepped in and in his typical wristy style, whipped the NCA bowlers into submission. Besides those dainty flicks, Laxman was also in his element as he swung Piyush and Shahbaz Nadeem over and above the ropes. However Laxman picked the fielder at mid-wicket with another big hit off Piyush and later the Airlines' hopes rested on Rajat Bhatia, who played a sedate knock but failed to meet the challenge of a galloping asking run rate.

The scores (final): NCA 306 in 81 overs and 197 for eight in 40 overs bt Indian Airlines 130 in 53.5 overs and 251 for seven in 40 overs (Rajat Bhatia 70, V.V.S. Laxman 69).

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