The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Film stars stump regulars

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Nov 05, 2007
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Film stars stump regulars

Sumit Bhattacharjee

Actor Tarun in action.

VISAKHAPATNAM: With every jig that actor Srikant or Tarun performed in tune with the music belted out by the DJ on and off during the course of a cricket match the crowd cheered with passion. A high-voltage ambience prevailed at the Port Stadium where a 30-over a side cricket match was played between Tollywood Cricket Association (TCA) –XI and A P Sports Foundation (APSF) - XI here on Sunday.

The match was organised by APSF to raise funds for constructing a sports facility in the tribal area to encourage athletics, archery and weightlifting among the girijans.

And at the end of a hot and humid day TCA- XI led by actor Tarun scored an emphatic win over the much formidable APSF –XI.

Electing to field first after winning the toss TCA-XI bundled out the APSF team led by former Indian player Noel David for 165 in 28.4 overs. The star studded APSF team fielded a couple of players who just moved into the ICL (Indian Cricket League) like Ambati Tirupathi Rayudu and Kaushik Reddy. The line-up was complete with other players like Md. Abbas (son of Md. Azharuddin), ace archer- Limba Ram, Arjuna Awardee- Chetan Anand and Commissioner of GVMC Mukesh Kumar Meena.

Compared to the formidable APSF line-up, the TCA team had Tarun, Srikant, ‘GV’ and the two brothers of dubbing star Saikumar - Ravishankar and Ayyappa Sarma. The team was complete with a couple of artistes from the small screen.

At one stage Ravishankar and Tarun had the APSF team tottering and would have bundled them out for a much lower score but for the brilliant 63 made by Rayudu that contained three sixes and five fours. He was well supported by Noel who contributed 23. Mukesh Kumar Meena scored a quickfire 10 with two hits to the fence while opening the innings for APSF. For TCA both Tarun and Ravishankar claimed three wickets each.

In reply TCA lost four wickets for 15 runs, thanks to the pace of Kaushik Reddy. But the film stars had the last laugh. Giri who earlier put up a brilliant show on the field by taking a few catches and indulging in diving stops was unbeaten on 87 with two towering sixes and eight fours. He was well supported by the former Hyderabad Ranji player Vanka Pratap who scored 67 (6 fours). The duo recorded 142 runs partnership for the fifth wicket to see the back of the APSF-XI. While Giri was adjudged the man of the match, Tarun was the best bowler and Pratap was given the best batsman award.

Dialogue star Saikumar who could not play because of an injury.

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