GCA finish runners-up
moin-ud-dowla gold cup
HERALD SPORTS DESK
PANJIM, SEPT 26
Hyderabad Cricket Association President’s XI won the Coromandel King All-India Moin-ud-Dowla Gold Cup cricket tournament by virtue of first innings lead against Goa (GCA) in the three-day final at Rajiv Gandhi Stadium here on Thursday.
The final’s play was delayed by 45 minutes due to a wet outfield following heavy overnight rain. President’s XI scored 188 for eight in their 40 overs with opener Benjamin Thomas (46, 69b, 3×4, 1×6) and Arjun Yadav (47, 68b, 3×4, 2×6) batting with freedom and authority.
For Goa, Amit Yadav returned with impressive figures of five for 60.
Chasing an improbable 329 runs from 40 overs, Goa scared the Hyderabad camp early in the innings rattling up 102 for one in 11 overs thanks to some lusty hitting by opener Shagun Kamat (31, 18b, 3×4, 2×6) and breezy knocks by Saurabh Bandekar (38, 36b, 4×4) and Robin D’Souza (42, 25b, 1×4, 3×6).
But, President’s XI captain Ravi Teja struck two crucial blows, sending back Saurabh and Robin in quick succession with his leg-spin.
Later, the advent of 18-year-old left-arm spinner B. Sandeep, who scored an impressive 90 in the first innings, effectively dashed Goa’s hopes as he first cleaned up Amit Yadav and then in his next overforced Sher Bahadur Yadav to hit straight to D.B. Ravi Teja at mid-on.
Rakesh Singh gave away the trophies and Rs. 3 lakh to the winners and Rs. 2 lakh to Goa.
