Atmaram Kumara Sabha staring defeat

BANGALORE, APRIL 27. Atmaram Kumara Sabha's (Patiala) luck ran out at the crucial time. After two last over wins in the lead up to the final of the Parle Champions Trophy inter-state schools cricket tournament, Atmaram had virtually lost the title game against Salwan School (Delhi) struggling 161 runs behind and with just one wicket in hand.

The format of the two-day final which is played over 60 overs in the first innings and 30 in the second leaves very little hope for the Patiala side to stage any kind of recovery.

Opting to bat first in the final, Salwan School found itself in troubled waters by the 17th over. The first four batsmen were back in the pavilion with only 52 runs on the board. But Salwan's trump card, the consistent Kuldeep Rawat was still at the crease and he, along with the India Under-16 player Susheel Kumar began the process of rebuilding the Delhi innings.

Kumara Sabha began disastrously, losing opener Shiv Kumar (0) off the third ball of the innings. His partner Gauri Shankar (2) departed off the first ball of the fourth over and Atmaram Kumara Sabha never recovered from the two body blows. Trundler Pardeep Mann bowled a fine spell (four for 23) as the Delhi team ended the day on an invincible position.

The scores: Salwan Boys High School (Delhi) 258 in 58.2 overs (Kuldeep Rawat 65, Susheel Kumar 55, Himanshu Mehta 31, Maninder Singh 35, Tejider Singh four for 61) vs Atmaram Kumara Sabha 97 for nine in 50 overs (Sandeep Kumar 25, Pardeep Mann four for 23).

- Our Sports Reporter

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