Karthik ton powers Tamil Nadu to Deodhar triumph

Visakhapatnam: Experienced wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik slammed a 91-ball 126 to power Tamil Nadu to the title triumph in the Deodhar Trophy with a comfortable 42-run win over India B in the final here today. Batting first after winning the toss, Tamil Nadu scored 303 and then bowled out India B for 261 in 46.1 overs. Tamil Nadu were struggling at 39/3 in the 11th over before Karthik steadied the innings with a 136-run partnership for the fourth wicket with Narayan Jagadeesan (55). Karthik struck 14 boundaries and three sixes, while Jagadeesan found the fence four times and cleared it once.

Brief scores: Tamil Nadu: 303/9 (Karthik 126, Jagadeesan 55; Kulkarni 5/39); India B: 261 (Gurkeerat 64; Rahil Shah 3/40)   

Karachi

Pak bowler Irfan suspended for a year over spot-fixing 

Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Irfan has been suspended for a year and fined  Pakistani Rs 10 lakh after failing to disclose two approaches made by bookmakers during this year’s Pakistan Super League, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said on Wednesday. The 34-year-old, who played for Islamabad United, admitted the charges levelled against him by the PCB’s anti-corruption unit. PCB will review the suspension after six months, at which point Irfan’s contract may be restored. Over seven feet tall, he has played four Tests, 60 ODIS and 20 T20 Internationals. 

New Delhi

Govt unlikely to allow Indo-Pak cricket in Dubai 

The Indian government is unlikely to grant permission to BCCI to schedule a series against Pakistan in Dubai due to the prevailing situation in Jammu and Kashmir. “The Home Minister will take a call on this but I don’t think the atmosphere is right given the current situation in Jammu and Kashmir,” said Minister of State for Home Hansraj Ahir. Ahir was responding to the reports saying that BCCI had written to the Home Ministry seeking permission to play Pakistan in Dubai. “We get many proposals and letters but the atmosphere today is not right for Indo-Pak cricket,” he said. 

Hamilton

South Africe take series after being saved by rain  

Heavy overnight rain ended New Zealand’s hopes of winning the third Test against South Africa and levelling the series at 1-1 on Wednesday when the final day in Hamilton was abandoned without a ball being bowled. South Africa clinched the three-match series 1-0, having won the second game in Wellington by eight wickets. — Agencies