Patiala academy script 1-run thrilling win, storm into final

In a nail-biting finish, Cricket Academy (CAP) of Patiala scripted victory by a wafer-thin margin of one run against CP Cricket Academy of Ludhiana to storm into the final in the First Inter-Academies (U-18) Cricket Tournament being played at the Golf Link Cricket ground on the Hambran road here on Friday.

Patiala boys scored 205 runs in 43.4 overs with main contributions coming through Arvind Singh (50), Anush Yadav (41) and Ranveer Singh (29) while for the local side, Akshit Kaushal and Ajay Kumar got rid of three batsmen each and Hiren Chaudhary grabbed two wickets.

CP Academy began their reply on a positive note and were cruising well (139 for 2 after 31.5 overs) and then lost wickets in quick succession (174 for 7 in 40.1 overs). Thanks to outstanding fielding of Patiala players, city team’s innings culminated at 204 runs with five balls to spare.

Notable contribution with the bat by Sargun (43), Aarav Aggarwal (50), Lovepreet Singh (32) and Yuvraj Sharma (27) went in vain as the Patiala academy won the thriller to reach the final where they will take on MCC Academy, Moga, on November 9.

BK Mehta, Additional District and Sessions Judge (retd), and former vice-president, Punjab Cricket Association; and Sunny Khosla, former chairman of the sub-committee, Ludhiana District Cricket Association, appointed by the PCA, were guests of honour on Friday.