So close yet so far away

Sharad Lumba's all-round show helps PCA Colts tie score with MPCA, but they lose on net run rate

Despiye Sharad Lumba's valiant all-round effort (2 for 37) and 80 runs), PCA Colts failed to gain entry into the final of the 19th All-India JP Atray Memorial Cricket Tournament for the Pearls Trophy at the Government Model Senior Secondary School ground in Sector 26. Lumba's half-century took the team agonisingly close to the victory target, but Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association (MPCA) bowlers bowled well to help the team tie the match. As a result, the visitors qualified for the final on the basis of better net run rate (NRR). MPCA's NRR is +0.211 while PCA Colts run rate is -0.596.

Earlier, MPCA won the toss and elected to bat first. Their decision seemed to have backfired when the team was looking down the barrel at 98 for 5 in 28.4 overs. With half the team back in the pavillion, it was left to Varunesh Singh and Salman Beg to rebuild the team's innings.

Varunesh and Beg not only batted sensibly and held the fort toether but also paced the innings well to help the team post a competitive total on the board. They added 112 runs for the sixth wicket in mere 16 overs. Beg hammered 75 runs off just 49 balls with the help of six boundaries and six towering sixes. Varunesh scored a run-a-ball 82 with the help of five boundaries and six huge sixes, to help the team post 268 runs in 50 overs. Beant Singh was the most successful bowler for PCA Colts with 3 for 52 while Sharad Luma (2 for 37) and Himanshu Chawla (2 for 14) also bowled well for the team.

Chasing the target, PCA Colts were restricted to 268 in 49 overs and the match ended in a tie. Lumba scored a quick-fire 80 off 64 deliveries that was studded with seven boundaries and five huge sixes, to lead the PCA Colts charge. Himanshu Chawla was also among runs as his innings of 69 runs kept the scoreboard ticking. D Chaurasia and Rameez Khan picked up two wickets each for the MPCA team.

... contd.

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