DEFENDING champions Ministerial Services Sports Club (MSSC) and Navniketan Cricket Club registered an identical ten wickets win in their respective semi-finals and will meet in Dr MN Dorairajan Trophy Cricket Tournament final starting at VCA Civil Lines Stadium from April 9. Left-arm seamer Sooraj Rai snared six wickets setting an easy win for MSSC over Ruby Colts at VCA’s Kalamna ground on Tuesday. In response to MSSC’s first innings score of 460-8 in 90 overs, Ruby Colts were all out for 277 in 74.1 overs in their fist innings. Following on, they started the third and final day at 40-1. Rai (6-71) rattled them and the team was shot out for 188 all out in 52.5 overs ensuring that MSSC had to come with the bat again to score six runs in their second innings which they did in just three balls without losing a wicket. For Ruby night-watchman Iknoor Singh (74) was the top-scorer while Varun Bisht contributed 34. In the other semis, Navniketan defeated Indian Gymkhana, also by 10-wicket margin at VCA Civil Lines Stadium. Navniketan had piled 505-3 in 90 overs in their first essay. Indian Gymkhana replied with 346 all out in 73.3 overs in their first effort. Asked to follow on, they were bowled out for 171 in 38.1 overs with none of the batters making an impact.

 

Virendra Patel (3-0) and Pratham Maheswari (3-48) picked three wickets each for the winners. Navniketan openers hammered 13 runs without being separated in an over for the huge victory. BRIEF SCORES (SEMI-FINALS) At VCA Civil Lines Stadium: Navniketan CC 1st innings 505-3 in 90 overs (Vedant Dighade 106, Aditya Ahuja 250 not out, Mohd Faiz 86). Indian Gymkhana 1st innings 346 all out in 73.3 overs (Tushar Suryavanshi 42, Neel Athaley 109, R Sanjay 55, Aaditya Khilote 44; Shantanu Chikhale 3-100, Yash Kadam 2-39). Indian Gymkhana 2nd innings (f-o) 171 all out in 38.1 overs (R Sanjay 36, Siddhesh Wath 34; Virendra Patel 3-0, Pratham Maheswari 3-48). Navniketan CC 2nd innings 13-0 in 1 over. Result: Navniketan won by 10 wickets. At VCA’s Kalamna ground: Ministerial Services Sports Club 1st innings 460-8 in 90 overs (Gaurav Nikam 202 not out, Vedant Jajoo 47, Yash Rathod 46, Mandar Mahale 90). Ruby Colts 1st innings 277 all out in 74.1 overs (Rohit Binkar 116, Adhyayan Daga 53; Mandar Mahale 5-100, Sooraj Rai 3-74). Ruby Colts 2nd innings (f-o) 188 all out in 52.5 overs (Iknoor Singh 74, Varun Bisht 34; Sooraj Rai 6-71). MSSC 2nd innings 6-0 in 0.3 overs. Result: MSSC won by 10 wickets.