Settling scores

Cricket matches usually bring out the competitive spirit of the participants, and a recent exhibition match between the Officials’ Eleven and the Chief Minister’s Eleven in Lucknow was no exception. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav scored a decent 44 runs but his excellent innings was cut short by none other than the collector of Sultanpur district (which happens to cover the constituencies of Amethi and Raebareli, pocket-boroughs of Congress President Sonia Gandhi). Yadav, meanwhile, also took four wickets and one of the scalps was his chief secretary. In the end, Yadav was adjudged Man of the Match but many wonder whether he can replicate his success on the cricket field in the state administration as well.