In a commanding display of cricket, Graduate Club secured a decisive 66-run victory over Kherapati Club on Thursday, booking their place in the semi-finals of the ongoing KS Saxena Memorial Cricket Tournament. The match was held at the Kanpur South Ground.
Graduate Club Sets a Formidable Target
Choosing to bat first after winning the toss, Graduate Club put up an imposing total of 260 runs for the loss of 6 wickets in their allotted 28 overs. The innings was built on solid contributions from the top and middle order. Abdul Alaf Khan top-scored with a brisk 82 runs, while Mayank Dubey provided strong support with a well-made 61. Hemant also chipped in with a valuable half-century, scoring 56 runs. For Kherapati Club, bowler Bilal Firoz was the most successful, claiming 3 wickets for 30 runs.
Kherapati Club's Chase Falls Short
In response, Kherapati Club's batting lineup struggled to build momentum against a disciplined Graduate Club bowling attack. They were eventually bowled out for 180 runs, falling well short of the target. Saurabh Singh fought a lone battle, scoring 55 runs, and received some support from Aryan Saxena (32) and Luv Pandey (22). However, the regular fall of wickets prevented any substantial partnerships. Mayank Dubey, showcasing his all-round skills, was instrumental with the ball as well, taking 2 crucial wickets for just 21 runs.
For his stellar performance with both bat and ball, Mayank Dubey was adjudged the Man of the Match.
Women's Cricket: KCA Red Dominates in Talent Hunt League
In a parallel women's cricket event, KCA Red delivered a dominant performance to outclass KCA Pink by a massive 66 runs in a Women Talent Hunt Cricket League match. The game took place at the HAL Ground on Thursday.
Batting first, KCA Red posted a competitive score of 151 for 4. Nisha Verma remained unbeaten on a fine 59, with Archana Devi (27) and Shivi Singh (23) making useful contributions. The bowling attack then put on a spectacular show. Archana Devi turned the game on its head with a breathtaking bowling spell, claiming an astonishing 5 wickets for just 8 runs. Aradhya Singh supported her well with 2 wickets for 6 runs. KCA Pink were bundled out for a mere 85 runs, with Neha Verma's 24 being the highest score.
These matches highlight the vibrant club cricket scene in Kanpur, providing crucial platforms for local talent in both men's and women's cricket to shine.
