TOI set up summit clash with HT in SBI Cup

Lucknow. Spirited Times of India today set up the summit clash with favourites Hindustan Times in the SBI Cup Media Premier League, notching up a fascinating nine-wicket win over Dainik Jagran, at the KD Singh ‘Babu’ Stadium here.

The final will be played tomorrow at 9.30 a.m. Managing director of the Ekana Sportz City, Udai Sinha would be the chief guest of the closing ceremony of the tournament being organized by the Lucknow Sports Journalist Association.

Needing 92 to win in the stipulated 20 overs, TOI reached home in 14.1 overs, losing the only wicket of skipper Rajiv Srivastava, who was stumped by Prahlad Mawri off Alok Mishra after scoring 14-ball 11 with the help of one boundary.

Seasoned opener Rishi Singh Senger (42, 46b, 4×4), who was later named man-of-the-match, along with Satyendra Mehrotra (20, 26b, 1×4) stitched together unbeaten 71-run for the second-wicket to take the side home.

For yet another time it was a bad toss to win for the Dainik Jagran as they chose to bat first on a wicket, where ball was skidding in the beginning. Though skipper Prahlad Singh Mawri (21, 36b, 2×4) and Ankur Dixit (6) added 43-run for the opening wicket in 6.5 overs, Dainik Jagran batters continued to struggle later and were 69/8 in 14.3 overs. In fact, Mawri’s suicidal attempt to take a cheeky single turned out to be the biggest blunder for the side as he was far away from the crease when Rajiv Srivastava’s single-handed and stop and throw was right on the stumps.

Nine of the Dainik Jagran batters couldn’t even touch the double figure mark. Ambika Bajpai (8*, 14b, 1×4) remained the second highest run getter for the side after Mawri. Anish Oberoi (3/9) and Ishtiyaq (3/8) shared six wickets between them, whereas Rajiv Srivastava bagged 2/11.