Chennai, Aug 30 (IANS) Maharashtra snatched a thrilling two-wicket victory against Kerala in the final to lift the All-India Buchi Babu cricket tournament trophy here Tuesday.
Chasing a target of 320 in 90 overs, openers Ashok Khadiwale (55, 87b, 5×4, 1×6) and Chirag Khurana (82, 133b, 8×4) provided Maharashtra a sound start while Rohit Motwani (46, 87b, 1×4) and Ankit Bhawne (59, 75b, 4×4, 1×6) added 75 for the fourth wicket to have Kerala on the ropes.
However, a flurry of wickets reduced Maharashtra from 300 for four to 307 for eight before Ajinkya Joshi (13 not out) and Dominic Joseph Muthusamy (6 not out) guided their team home amidst mounting tension.
For Kerala, off-spinner K.R. Sreejith picked up five wickets, but bled runs and his effort eventually went in vain as Maharashtra coasted home with 3.2 overs to spare.
Score-board
Kerala: 319 all out
Maharashtra: Ashok Khadiwale c and b Sreejith 55; Chirag Khurana b Sreejith 82; Rohan Bhosale c Prem b Sreejith 31; Rohit Motwani c Jagadeesh b Sreejith 46; Ankit Bhawane b Sreejith 59; Nikhil Paradkar c (sub).Rizwaan b Sanuth 20; Sangram Attikar (run out) 3; Priyag Bhatti c Jagadeesh b Sanuth 1; Ajinkya Joshi (not out) 13; Dominic Joseph Muthusamy (not out) 6. Extras: 7. Total (for 8 wkts, 86.4 overs): 323.
Fall of wickets: 1-110, 2-156, 3-190, 4-265, 5-300, 6-302, 7-304, 8-307.
Bowling: Anthaf 3-0-19-0 (w1); N Niyas 10.4-0-40-0; KR Sreejith 31-3-100-5; Ralphi Vincent Gomez 6-0-19-0; ME Sanuth 17-2-54-2 (nb2); Jagadeesh 5-0-25-0; Rohan Prem 5-0-22-0; KJ Rakesh 9-0-41-0.
