TN Combined Districts XI win maiden Buchi Babu Trophy

Chennai:

Tamil Nadu Combined Districts XI rode on a fine half century (68) by KB Arun Karthick to thump Hyderabad XI by seven wickets in the final and clinch their maiden Buchi Babu Memorial Trophy here on Saturday.

Resuming at their overnight score of 49 without loss, Combined Districts made 156 for three in 38.3 overs in reply to Hyderabad's 154 all out in 78.4 overs, thanks mainly to Arun Karthick's 77-ball 68.

Karthick, who shared 81 runs for the first wicket with S Thalaivan Surgunam (24), hit seven fours and a six in his innings before being dismissed by Pragyan Ojha.

TN Combined Districts XI received the winner's cheque of Rs. 1 lakh while Hyderabad XI were richer by Rs. 50,000.

S Suresh Kumar, who has been consistent in the tournament with both bat and ball, could make only nine runs before being caught by Abhinav Kumar of off-spinner Vishal Sharma.

R Srinivasan (31 not out) and K Sriram (20 not out) remained unbeaten for the unfinished fourth wicket which yielded 36 runs.

For Hyderabad XI, Pragyan Ohja took two for 58. National Selection Committee chairman Krish Srikkanth, who was the chief guest at the prize distribution ceremony, recalled his day's of first division league cricket.

He said he had made it to the Tamil Nadu state team and then the Indian side after playing TNCA first division and Buchi Babu tournament.

Hosts Tamil Nadu Cricket Association fielded three teams (TNCA, TNCA President's XI and Combined Districts) in the tournament in which 16 teams competed for honours including 12 state teams and New Zealand 'A' team.

Brief Scores:

Hyderabad XI 154 all out in 78.4 overs (Abhinav Kumar 30, Benjamin Thomas 19, Arjun Yadav 17, Ahmed Quadri 25, Pragyan Ojha 18, SM Shoaib 17, Amol Shinde 16; Suresh Kumar 6/35, Sivakumar 1/23, R Jesuraj 1/27)

TN Combined Districts XI 156 for 3 in 38.3 overs (KB Arun Karthick 68, Thalaivan Surgunam 24, R Srinivasan not out 31, S Sriram not out 20; Pragyan Ojha 2 for 58, Vishal Sharma 1/41).