The Hindu : Rakshan cracks century

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Aug 08, 2003

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Sport - Cricket

Rakshan cracks century

BANGALORE Aug. 7. Opener Rakshan Rai's 115 helped Railway Sports Promotion Board (RSPB) post 362 for seven in the stipulated 90-over first innings against Rajasthan Cricket Association in the KSCA all-India invitation MRF Trophy tournament quarterfinal that commenced at the IAF Ground here on Thursday.

Railways opted to bat and though opener Dheeraj Sharma snicked Anshu Jain early, the innings stabilised with a 137-run second wicket partnership between Rakshan Rai (115, 152b, 12 x 4) and Bhavin Thakkar (75).

Seamer Sumeet Mathur scalped Rakshan and Bhavin, but it did not scuttle the Railways' progress. Shreyas Kanolkar (54) and skipper J.P. Yadav (39) shored up the middle order and helped their side past the 300-mark.

At the Chinnaswamy Stadium, seamer Shabir Ali's opening spell helped Cricket Association of Bengal grab the initiative against Hyderabad Cricket Association.

Electing to bat, Hyderabad lost openers T. Suman and Ibrahim Khaleel along with A.T. Rayudu in the first seven overs while Shabir exulted from the Pavilion End.

Hyderabad mustered 143 in 68.1 overs and Bengal replied with 31 for two at stumps.

In the other quarterfinal matches, KSCA XI scored 259 for five against Indian Oil Corporation at the Rail Wheel Factory Ground while ONGC scored 221 against Indian Airlines at the Jain International Residential School Ground.

The scores (quarterfinals): Railway Sports Promotion Board 362 for seven wickets in 90 overs (Rakshan Rai 115, Bhavin Thakkar 75, Shreyas Kanolkar 54, J.P. Yadav 39, Sumeet Mathur three for 70) vs Rajasthan CA.

Hyderabad CA 143 in 68.1 overs (Anup Pai 51, Faiz Ahmed 47, Shabir Ali three for 12) vs Cricket Association of Bengal 31 for two in 22 overs.

ONGC 221 in 88.5 overs (Ajay Jadeja 63, Sandeep Sharma 58, Amit Uniyal 55 n.o., Rajat Bhatia three for 55) vs Indian Airlines.

KSCA XI 259 for five in 76 overs (Pawan Gargi 88 n.o., Stuart Binny 41, Shyam Ponnappa 30) vs Indian Oil Corporation.

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