Minerva Club beat Central Railways in invitational tournament

Chandigarh, Jan 14 (UNI) Minerva Academy Cricket Club of Chandigarh today defeated Central Railways by six wickets in the semi-final of the Invitational Cricket Tournament at Hazarimal Ground in Vrindavan (Uttar Pradesh).

Minerva Academy skipper Ranjit Bajaj won the toss and elected to field. Abid Nabi, who plays Ranji Trophy for Jammu and Kashmir, picked up 4 wickets for 20 runs.

He was well supported by Delhi Ranji player Shiikhar Dhwan and current Punjab Ranji off spinner Rajesh Sharma who picked up two wickets each. Central Railways were bowled out for 157 runs with a ball to spare in their allotted 35 overs.

Parveen Gupta topscored with un unbeaten 51 for Central Railway.

He faced 41 balls and hit four fours and one six. He was well supported by Aris (22) and Dinesh (18). runs.

Minerva Academy had a disastrous start as they lost both their operns and their one down batsman with the score reading 10 for 3 in 3 overs. A match winning 140-run partnership between Shikhar Dhawan and Bipul Sharma steered Minerva Club to a six-wicket win with more than seven overs to spare.

Dhawan made a brilliant 61 of 85 balls which included six boundaries. Bipul hit a quickfire 71 of just 58 balls. He hit 10 boundaries and three sixes.

For Central Railways Rohit Chaudhary was the most successful bowler picking up 2 wickets for 40 runs.

UNI