Opener Athiraj Shandilya’s double hundred prevented TI Cycles from conceding a first-innings lead, which seemed the likely scenario, to Jolly Rovers in the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association’s first division league at the Murugappa Cricket Grounds on Wednesday.
After Jolly Rovers had racked up a substantial 543, TI Cycles were down for the count when they reeled to 154 for four on Tuesday. But Shandilya, resuming from his overnight score of 77, trenched himself to an unbeaten 207 even as he regularly lost his partners. His 381-balled knock contained 28 boundaries and seven sixes.
Lower-order batsman M Bilva Prasath gave him ample support with a dogged 29 off 174 balls, and the pair added 135 runs in 56.1 overs, which rescued them from being bowled out and thus concede the first-innings lead and points. They were only two wickets away from such a fate when the umpires called time with them on 334 for eight in 129 overs. Thus with TI Cycle not completing even an innings, both teams split points.
Among a clutch of draws, only Alwarpet CC secured an outright win, as they hammered Indian Bank by an innings and 94 runs. Defending their first innings tally of 316 runs, they bowled out Indian Bank for 120 and 102 in each innings. Gary Dumenil (3 for 24) was their chief tormentor in the second essay.
Meanwhile, Globe Trotters SC and UFCC eked out five points over IOB Club Staff and India Pistons CC by virtue of their first-innings lead. MR Muthupandi starred for Globe Trotters with a breezy 144 (180 balls, 16x4, 4x6).
Brief scores: At Pachaiyappas College ‘A’ Grounds: Globe Trotters SC 369 for 9 dec in 156.5 overs drew with IOB Club Staff 397 for 6 in 107.1 overs (MR Muthupandi 144, S Murali 53, K Bharat Reddy 83, Robert Fernandez 49 no). Points: IOB-5, GTSC-2
At Murugappa Cricket Grounds: Jolly Rovers CC 543 in 125 overs drew with T I Cycles S&RC 334 for eight in 129 overs (Athiraj Shandilya 207 no, M Santosh Gopi 33, Piyush Chawla 3/57, M Prabhu 3/65). Points: TI Cycles -3, JR-3.
At IIT-Chemplast Grounds: Alwarpet CC 316 for 1 dec in 78 overs bt Indian Bank 120 and 102 in 47.5 overs (Garry Dumenil 3/24). Points: Alwarpet-8, IB-0.
At RKM Vivekananda College Grounds: Grand Slam CC 440 for seven declared 139.3 overs drew with Aruna CC 325 for six in 122 overs (B Rahul, J Koushik 81, R Amith Singh 43, M Rajaram 3/49, Rahil S Shah 3/108). Points: GS-3, Aruna-3.
At SRMC: Young Stars CC 435 in 145.1 overs drew with Vijay CC 51 without loss in 14 overs Points: Young Stars-3, Vijay-3.
At CPT-IP (Turf) Grounds: UFCC (T Nagar) CC 371 in 130.3 overs drew with India Pistons C C 203 in 95.2 overs (R Srinivasan 57, V Arunkumar 4/37). Points: UFCC-5, IP-2.