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Convincing start for holder IOB

Chennai: Defending champion Indian Overseas Bank had a convincing start with a 4-1 victory over Sports Authority of India ‘B,’ while Southern Railway ‘A’ secured its second successive victory in as many days by outclassing Indian Bank 3-1 in the MIOT-CHA senior division hockey league championship at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium here on Saturday.

The expectation that the Railway-Indian Bank encounter would be a rousing contest, considering the presence of top players on both the sides, remained unfulfilled.

Surprisingly, Indian Bank meekly capitulated to the authority and adeptness displayed by the Railway frontline headed commendably by skipper Diwakar, and by a consistent defence.

The filament of fluency ingrained in the Railway attack was enough to unsettle the Indian Bank defence, which consisted of seasoned campaigners like Dinesh Nayak, Joseph Manikaraj and Aaseer, with the international Thirumalvalavan manning the midfield.

Southern Railway’s asset was the diminutive Diwakar whose sinuous runs down the line and also through the middle caused repeated alarms to the Indian Bank defence.

It was in the fitness of things that Diwarar should deflect in the lead three minutes before the breather and he did that in style.

Indian Bank retaliated after the break with Philip Martin directing a free hit by Aseer into the net.

Even as the vision of a drawn game rose, came the lead for Southern Railway through Ganesh.

An attempt by Philip Marin, which could have brought in the equaliser, was thwarted neatly by goalkeeper Suresh. A perfect carpet drive penalty corner by Charles Dixon gave Southern Railway an unassailable lead with six minutes from the close.

A speck of rough play reared its head now and then, but the umpires, Muhmamad Munir and Sathya, controlled the situation with a firm hand.

Yellow cards to Martin and Raja of Indian Bank and Arumugam of Southern Railway kept the tenor of the tie on an even keel.

Earlier, IOB took a 3-0 lead at half time through M. Senthil, Adam Sinclair and Sasikaran, while Saravanakumar netted the fourth. The lone scorer for SAI was S. Raja.

Hat-trick by Arjun

S. Arjun’s hat-trick (three for one) enabled SRM Eswari defeat Crescent by 29 runs in the A.C. Muthiah Rolling Trophy inter-engineering cricket tournament on Saturday.

The scores: Hindustan 74 in 18 overs (Rama Raja three for nine) lost to Eswari 75 for three in 10.1 overs (Ganesh Raja 28 n.o.); SRM Eswari 128 for seven in 20 overs (Lakshmi Narasimhan 29, Anirudh three for 25) bt Crescent 99 in 18.2 overs (S. Arjun three for one, including a hat-trick); Velammal 68 in 15.4 overs (Iyyappan 26, P. Guru Baskar four for nine, Ashwin Raj three for two) lost to Sri Venkateswara EC 69 for one in 10 overs (R. Aravind 36 n.o).

PSBB ‘A’ triumphs

PSBB ‘A’ won the TNCA under-13 cricket tournament’s two-day final, which concluded at RKM-Viveka ground on Saturday by virtue of its first innings lead over PS SSS.

Resuming on 79 for three, PS SSS folded up for 107, thereby conceding the lead. PSBB’s V. Sai Prakash (six for 27) was instrumental in his team’s victory. K.S. Viswanathan, Secretary, TNCA, gave away the prizes.

The scores: Final: PSBB ‘A’ 171 & 153 in 45 overs (Adithya Giridhar 29, Karthik Ganesh 26, V. Adithya 42 n.o., Aravind Mahadevan three for 63, M.S. Suraj four for 56) drew with PS SSS 107 in 66.2 overs (M. Adithyan 34, V. Sai Prakash six for 27).

Carrom tournament

The Kasturbha Nilayam (Egmore), in association with the Chennai District Carrom Association, will organise a carrom tournament for women (above-25) on March 9 from 10 a.m. at Kasturbha Nilayam, No.15, Halls Road, Egmore. Entries close on March 8 with Rajam Venugopal, Secretary, Kasturbha Nilayam, ph: 28190154, or call M. Thangaprakash, Tournament Secretary, at 94440 75479.

Tennis camp

The Classic Tennis Academy will conduct a summer tennis and fitness camp at Mylapore and Royapattah for juniors and adults. For details contact Edwin Juda Edwards, ph: 98401 70464.

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