SPORTS

Collage Group annex Raghubir Singh Cup
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, June 5
An electrifying unbeaten knock of 70 by Virender Sharma was the highlight of Collage Group’s three-wicket victory against the star-studded Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) to annex the 27th Lala Raghubir Singh Cricket Tournament at the Modern School ground, Barakhamba Road.

Put into bat, the famed ONGC batting lineup failed to click as barring Rizwan Samsad, who cracked a stroke-filled 66 (7x4, 1x6, 67b), none of the other batsmen could make any substantial contribution as Collage Group captain

Mahesh Bhati (3 for 30) and Sachin Choudhary (3 for 32) virtually scythed through the rival innings.

At one stage, ONGC were two wickets down with only four runs on the board. But Rizwan Samsad and Ajay Jadeja hoisted an 101-run stand for the third wicket to bail them out, though they could not save ONGC from folding up for 183 in 37.2 overs.

With an easy target to meet, Collage Group were given a stirring start by Virender Sharma with his stroke play, with Sachin Choudhary also making a handsome contribution.

Collage Group were through with the job of overhauling ONGC’s total with a ball to spare, and three wickets in hand.

Virender Sharma was named the man of the match while Ajay Jadeja got the best batsman award. Sachin Choudhary was presented with the best bowler award.

Scores: ONGC: 183 all out in 37.2 overs (Rizwan Samsad 66, 7x4, 1x6, 67b; Ajay Jadeja 26, 1x4, 55b; Amit Uniyal 29 n o, 3x4, 1x6, 20b; Rajiv Rathore 21, 2x4, 34b; Mahesh Bhati 3 for 30, Sachin Choudhary 3 for 32, Sonu Sharma 2 for 20, Ashok Singh 1 for 26, Ashok Thakur 1 for 19). Collage Group made 188 for 7 in 39.5 overs.

Collage Group: 188 for 7 in 39.5 overs (Virender Sharma 70 n o, 6x4, 2x6, 90b; Sachin Choudhary 45, 6x4, 57b; Mayank Tehlan 29, 4x4, 34b; Samrat Singh 22, 2x4, 27b; Amit Uniyal 3 for 31, Amit Sharma 2 for 27, Rahul Sanghvi 1 for 36).

Nikhil Doru slams century for Air India
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, June 5
Nikhil Doru scored the first century in the seventh edition of the Lala Hari Ram Aggarwal Memorial Day-Night Cricket Carnival when he helped Air India outplay Lal Bahadur Shastri Club by seven wickets to move into the quarter-final.

Doru’s century and Divgijay Singh’s haul of 4 for 35 helped Air India score a convincing victory. Doru shone like a bright pearl with his brilliant stroke play at the Karnail Singh stadium. His whirlwind knock of 106 came off 83 balls, studded with 15 boundaries and two sixes.

Air India captain and former India player Praveen Amre, after winning the toss, put Shastri Club into bat. But after a promising start, Shastri Club lost track and inched to 214 for 9 in 30 overs, despite a swashbuckling knock by Dilip TT who missed his century by six runs. The target proved easy meat for Air India, thanks to the dashing knock of Nikhil Doru.

Doru was adjudged the man of the match while Dilip TT of Shastri Club earned the best batsman award. Divgijay Singh got the best bowler award.

Former director of the Central Bureau of Investigation Joginder Singh gave away the prizes.

Scores: Lal Bahadur Shastri Club: 214 for 9 in 30 overs (Dilip TT 94, Satender Yadav 16, Sumit Rana 19, Sumit Dogra 17, Rajan Gupta 27, Divgijay Singh 4 for 35).

Air India: 218 for 3 in 29.1 overs (Vinay Uthappa 40, Paul Valthyty 18, Nikhil Doru 106 n o, Harshad Rawat 31 n o).

There will be no match from June 6 to 9. The semi-finals will be played on June 10 and 11, and the final on June 12.

Delhi Audit, FCI earn full points
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, June 5
Defending champions Delhi Audit and five-time former champions Food Corporation of India (FCI)scored victories in contrasting styles in the Delhi Soccer Association Institutional League at Ambedkar Stadium on Thursday.

Delhi Audit sneaked past Central Secretariat with a solitary-goal victory to collect three points. After a goalless first half, striker Sameer Jung slammed home the match-winner in the 32nd minute of second half. Audit have earned six points from two matches while Secretariat have tallied three points from as many matches.

In Group A, FCI (North Zone) defeated Urban Development Ministry 3-0. After a barren first half, FCI struck home three quick goals in the last ten minutes of the match to record a handsome victory. Outside-left Bhupender Singh Rawat opened the account while inside-right Pushpinder increased the lead. Trilok Singh Bisht accounted for the third goal.

Friday’s fixture: ESIC vs Zakir Hussain College (4 pm); RBI vs Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd. (5.15 p m) Ambedkar Stadium.

Radhika Talyani to lead women’s soccer team

New Delhi, June 5
Radhika Talyani of Dev Samaj Model School will lead an 18-member Delhi State women’s football team in the 11th Senior National Women’s Football Championship to be held in Chennai (Tamilnadu) from June 8 to 24. Sonia Gaur of Janaki Devi College and Rehna Parveen of Manav Bharati International will be the vice-captains.