SIRSA, SEPT 10 :An unbeaten 58-run partnership between Vishal Michael (36) and Alok Singh (17) helped Life Insurance Corporation of India to register a facile five-wicket victory over Saracens Sports Club, Colombo (Sri Lanka) in a Pool B fixture of the Jannayak Ch Devi Lal InternationalTwenty20 Cricket Tournament being held at the JCD National Cricket Academy Stadium here today.
LIC alongwith Indian Navy, have qualified for semi-final from group B. LIC have won two matches and lost one. Navy which play their last league match against Sri Lanka tomorrow, have also made the semi-final grade as they have also recorded two victories. Even if they lose to Sri Lanka team, it will have no bearing on the group B standings.
Chasing a target of 124 for victory, LIC club had a disappointing start as they lost their opener-wicketkeeper Varun Kumar (7) at total of 7 in 1.1 overs. Agnesh Surya (26) and Rohit Chaudhary (20) carried the total to 45 before Rohit returned to the pavilion in 6.2 overs. LIC lost three quick wickets. At 62 opener Agnesh was dismissed and one runs later Shiva Kant Shukla was back in the pavilion. Captain Rajesh Patha was out with the addition of three runs later.
However, Vishal Michael and Alok Singh bolstered the LIC innings. They remained unseparated with a 58-run association as LIC achieved their target in 17 overs. Michael’s 20-ball unbeaten 36 contained three fours and three sixes. Alok made 17 in 19 deliveries and reached the boundary two times.
Earlier, Saracens Sports Club, Colombo (Sri Lanka) invited to bat first after LIC won the toss, made 123 for 8 in allotted 20 overs. Samith Dushantha topscored with 22 in 23 deliveries. Suresh Niroshan and Ravi Rarunaratne contributed 19 runs each. Medium pacer Arun Singh was the wrecker-in-chief of Saracens Sports Club innings. In a lively spell Arun took four wickets for 17 runs in four overs.
Arun was declared the man of the match.
Former Haryana Finance Minister Prof Sampath Singh presented the man of the match which carries a cash award of Rs 21,000.
Brief scores: Saracens Sports Club, Colombo (Sri Lanka): 123 for 8 in 20 overs (Nilrshan Abeyratne 11, Suresh Niroshan 19, Samith Dushantha 22, Ravi Ratunaratne 19, UKD Arvinda 10, Sherantha Mendis not out 10, Chathura Athukorala not out 10, Arun Singh 4 for 17, Nishant Singh 1 for 38, Babblu Kumar 1 for 8, Shiva Kant Shukla 1 for 26).
Life Insurance Corporation XI: 124 for 5 in 17 overs (Agnesh Surya 26, 4x4s, Rohit Chaudhary 20, 2x4s, 1×6, Vishal Michael not out 36, 3x4s, 3x6s, Alok Kumar not out 17, Milinda Siriwardane 2 for 26,l Chathura Athukorala 1 for 22, Geeth Alwis 1 for 21). LIC win by five wickets. Man of the Match: Arun Singh of LIC.
In a day-night match on Tuesday, Indian Air Force defeated United Arab Emirates by eight wickets.
Brief scores: UAE: 120 for 2 in 20 overs (Imran Khan 28, Sireejith 29, SS Karmakar not out 36, Mumtaj Qadir not out 14, Tushar Pant 1 for 23, Rajinder Bisht 1 for 17).
Indian Air Force: 116 for 4 (Rajinder Bisht 71, 5x4s, 3x6s, Rameez Sahzad 20, Shadab Khan 1 for 20, DS Atri 1 for 18, SS Karmakar 1 for 12). IAF win by 8 wickets. MoM: Rajinder Bisht.