Ludhiana, May 12
A patient knock of 58 runs by Rajan Singh and a hurricane 27 off just 12 deliveries by Surinder Chhinda including two sixes and three hits to the fence helped Hero Club to outplay Riat XI by four wickets in the final of the 9th Veera Devi Memorial Cricket Tournament played at the GGN Khalsa College for Boys ground here today.
Riat XI won the toss and elected to bat first. They scored 174 runs after losing six wickets in their stipulated 25 overs. The main scorers were Jaswinder Jassi, Anil Singla and Anil Danny who contributed 50 , 36 and 29 runs, respectively.
Requiring 175 runs for victory, Hero Club were struggling at 24 for three after eight overs. Then Rajan Singh and R.P. Singh steadied the innings and in the process added 86 runs for the fourth wicket. Rajan made 58 runs with the help of six boundaries. R.P. Singh chipped in with 23 valuable runs. Hero Club achieved the target in 23.1 overs.
Mr Joginder Kumar, President, Ludhiana Electroplaters Association, gave away prizes to the winners. Hero Club received a cash prize of Rs 3,100 and a trophy while the Riat XI got Rs 2,100 and the runners-up trophy.
Ballu of Double Deckor Club was named the best batsman, Jaswinder Jassi and Kuldeep Singh of Riat XI were adjudged the best wicket-keeper and the best bowler, respectively, while former Punjab Ranji player, Rakesh Saini, also of Riat XI was declared the best allrounder.
Dr M.S. Mahal, an international cricket umpire, was also honoured by the organisers on the occasion.
Brief scores: Riat XI — 174 for 6 in 25 overs ( Jaswinder Jassi 50, Anil Singla 36, Narinder 2 for 21, Surinder Chhinda 1 for 24); Hero Club — 177 for 6 in 23.1 overs (Rajan Singh 58, Surinder Chhinda 27, Varinder Patwari 2 for 20, Anil Danny 2 for 24).
Hockey tourney:
In the third round of the 5th Summer Season Aryan Hockey Six-a-Side Tournament, being played here at the Punjab Agricultural University ground, Olympian Surjit Club registered a facile 5-0 victory over Baker Club while Raj Kumar Prashar Club faced a stiff
resistance from Sant Parmjit Club before emerging victorious 4-3.In the first match, Surjit Club established 3-0 lead at the half time and pumped in two more goals in the second session. Charanjit Singh scored a brace while other goals came off Simarnjit Singh, Lakhwinder Singh and Gurinder Singh.
The second match between Raj Kumar Prashar Club and Sant Parmjit Club witnessed a keen tussle with both the teams trying to overpower each other. Raj Kumar Club were leading 2-1 at the breather. For the winners Kuljeet Singh struck twice while Sukhwinder Singh and Jasjeet Singh found the target once. Pargat Singh, Jagroop Singh and Hardip Singh Grewal scored the losers.
