Date:27/09/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/09/27/stories/2008092752762100.htm

Sport - Cricket

Hyderabad Heroes records first win

HYDERABAD: Hyderabad Heroes registered its first win in the ICL Twenty20 domestic cricket championship with a six-wicket win over Mumbai Champs at Lahari Resorts, near here on Friday.

Put in to bat, Mumbai Champs was off to fine start with openers Robin Morris (60) and Subhojit Paul (52) recording the first century partnership of the event.

However, once the two batsmen were dismissed in the 15th over, the momentum was lost as Champs failed to capitalise on the start and was restricted to 156 for five eventually.

In reply, Hyderabad Heroes owed its victory to a stroke-filled knock of 66 (45b, 6x4, 2x6) by D. Vinay Kumar.

In another match, Chennai Superstars continued its impressive run with an 18-run win over Royal Bengal Tigers.

Meanwhile, it was announced that the ICL Season II will commence on October 10 in Hyderabad with a grand opening ceremony.

The 41 matches of the season are scheduled to be held at Hyderabad, Panchkula, Gurgaon and Ahmedabad.

The nine teams, including the Dhaka Warriors (Bangladesh), will play against each other once in every city. All matches are scheduled to be played late in the evening with double headers every weekend.

The best of three finals will be played from November 13 to 16 in Ahmedabad and Hyderabad.

The scores: Mumbai Champs 156 for five in 20 overs (R. Morris 60, S. Paul 52) lost to Hyderabad Heroes 157 for four in 19.1 overs (D. Vinay Kumar 66, Sashank Nag 30); Chennai Superstars 146 in 20 overs (G. Vignesh 72, E. Ahmid three for 16) bt Royal Bengal Tigers 128 for seven.