The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : PDI celebrates maiden victory

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Monday, Nov 13, 2006
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PDI celebrates maiden victory

KOCHI: It was a combination formed in a hurry. And the team was playing its first outstation tournament. But Chennai's Primary Development of India made its debut a memorable one by winning the 56th Pooja all-India cricket tournament at the Tripunithura Palace Oval on Sunday.

The PDI thrashed Kochi's Swantons CC, which had four seasoned guest stars including former Tamil Nadu Ranji captain S. Suresh, by 128 runs in a disappointedly one-sided final.

"This title has come as a big surprise," said the PDI captain N. Raghavendra, the team's top scorer with 66 (51 balls, 7x4, 3x6). After winning the toss, the Chennai side posted 290, thanks to a 98-run fifth-wicket stand between Raghavendra and M. Raghav. The total, however, was not a huge one on the small Palace Oval.

But, despite the presence of established stars like S. Suresh, Sunil Oasis, Ajay Kudua and Kerala Ranji captain Sreekumar Nair, Swantons lost four quick wickets (38 for four from eight overs) with mediumpacer Raja (5-31) doing much of the damage.

Swantons' wicketkeeper C.M. Deepak (73 n.o.), who is in fine touch this season, put on 69 runs for the fifth wicket with Sreekumar Nair (32) but there was not much support from the rest.

T.C. Mathew, the Kerala Cricket Association secretary, gave away the prizes.

Special awards: Man of the final: N. Raghavendra (PDI). Man of the series: C.M. Deepak (Swantons).

The scores: PDI, Chennai 290 in 44.1 overs (Umapathy 59, N. Raghavendra 66, K. Srinivasan 36, Saju Kumar three for 64) bt Swantons CC, Ernakulam 162 in 36.3 overs (C.M. Deepak 73 n.o., Sreekumar Nair 32, Raja five for 31, Arun Kumar four for 19). — Principal Correspondent

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