Safi Darashah Trophy: Gopal all-round show saves President's XI

Bengaluru: President’s XI’s spin troika of Suresh Karani (3/25), Gowtham K. (3/16) and Shreyas Gopal (3/35) struck in regular intervals to bowl out Combined XI for a mere 111 on the opening day of the Safi Darashah Trophy cricket tournament here on Monday.

Asked to bat in the two-day clash at the IAF ground, Combined XI’s KV Siddharth showed resistance with a fighting 99-ball 50 (6x4) before dismissed by left-arm spinner Karani.

In reply, pacer Abhimanyu Mithun (6/24) struck in tandem as President’s XI were 174 for 6 at end of day’s play. With the top-order packed quickly by the burly quickie, all-rounder Gopal (92 batting, 123b, 14x4) waged a battle along with Sharath Srinivas (37 batting) for the eighth wicket to swell the lead to 63.

In another match, Aditya Somanna picked up three wickets as Vice President's XI crashed for 264. In reply, Bangalore Zone were struggling at 46 for 2.
Brief scores: At IAF: Combined XI: 111 all out in 46.3 overs (KV Siddharth 50, Suresh H Karani 3/25 Gowtham K 3/16, Shreyas Gopal 3/35) vs President’s XI: 174 for 6 in 48 overs (Mir Kaunain Abbas 27, Shreyas Gopal 92 batting, Sharath Srinivas 37 batting, Abhimanyu Mithun 6/24)

At Aditya (T): Vice President’s XI: 264 all out in 84 overs (Prateeksh R 89, Pavan Deshpande 31, Chiranjeevi GS 62, Aditya Somanna 3/49, Satish Bharadwaj 2/60) vs Bangalore Zone: 46 for 2 in 13.1 overs (Mayank Agarwal 21 batting).