Foreign teams participation after long gap

Lucknow, May 2 (UNI) After a long gap of two decades, Sheesh Mahal Cricket tournament witnessed the participation of foreign teams in its 56th edition that began here today.

Kuwait was the last foreign team, which participated in this prestigious tournament way back in 1987, while Sri Lanka, who played the inaugural match of the tournament today, last participated in 1979.

On the opening day at the K D Singh Babu Stadium, star studded hosts Sahara India beat Colombo Colts Cricket Club by 146 runs.

In the other match at the Chowk stadium Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) thrashed ITC Delhi by 7 wickets.

Winning the toss, Sahara India used the strip first, Yusuf Pathan, along with Abhishek Jhunjhunwala enthralled the spectators with their enterprising cricket. Both of them hit the visiting team bowlers all round the wickets in their 203 runs second wicket partnership.

Yusuf, the elder brother of Team India star Irfan Pathan, scored a hard hitting 106 in just 80 balls with the help of 16 fours and one six, while Jhunjhunwala scored run a ball 83 which consists 10 bounderies.

At the end of the stipulated 40 overs Sahara India score a mammoth 290 for the loss of 5 wickets.

For Colombo Colts, Sachitra Srisinghe claimed 3/43, T Patrirathra and L Prasad claimed one wicket each.

In reply the Colts team failed to tackle the situation accordingly, losing wickets at regular intervals. After the completion of 40th overs they mustared only 144 runs, a deficit of 146 runs, at the cost of seven wickets. Roshan Peiris (56) was the main scorer for Colts.

Joginder Sharma and Rohit Sharma both claimed two wickets each giving away 28 and 21 runs respectively.

At the Chowk stadium ITC Delhi gave a target of 231 to ONGC which they crossed after 36 overs lossing only three wickets.

Amit Sharma missed his century by three runs for the winners. The other top scorers were Radhey Shyam (61), Mithun Minhas (33).

Babloo Kumar, Pradip Sahu and Vishal Tyagi claimed one wicket each for ITC.

For the ITC Amit Sharma (50) and Naman Sharma (46) were the highest rungetter with the bat.

UNI