Mumbai's Surya Kumar Yadav and TNCA President's XI batsman R Satish were among the four centurions on an exciting Day 1 of the first-round matches in the Buchi Babu Cricket invitation tournament here today.
Surya Kumar struck a superb 138, his innings laced with 11 fours and 7 sixes, to help Mumbai post 341 all out in 88.2 at close against Kerala. Shridep Mangela (54), Akhil Herwadkar (40), Abhishek Nayar (25) and Nikhil Patil (34) also made useful contributions as left-arm spinner and captain Akshay Chandran took 5-92.
It was a run-feast in the TNCA President's XI-Odisha game, when three TNCA batsmen hit centuries to help the hosts post a mammoth 447 for five in their allotted 90 overs. Captain Baba Indrajith 127), M Kaushik Gandhi (100) and Sathish (102 not out) made it count. Odisha medium-pacer Basanta Mohanty claimed 2 for 59.
Indrajith, who Baba Aparajith's twin brother, was involved in two major partnerships, for the fourth wicket with Gandhi 187 runs in 49 overs -- and for the fifth wicket with Sathish -- 94 runs in 10.3 overs.
In a rain-affected match between Gujarat and Andhra, the game was reduced to 61 overs-a-side. Put in to bat, Gujarat were 51 without loss in 19 overs with Alsazkhan Pathan (26) and Smit Patel (20) at the crease.
In another truncated match, electing to bat, Bengal were 77 for four in 28 overs against TNCA Districts XI. The match was reduced to 67 overs-a-side.
In the fifth match, the TNCA City XI managed 192 for nine in 68 overs against Assam. N Jagadeesan (42), R Kavin (43) and B Goutham (44) contributed for the City team. Left-arm spinners J Syed Mohammed (4-60) and Bikash Chetry (2-20) were successful for Assam.
In another game, Himachal Pradesh were 95 for five in 30 overs, in response to Baroda's 163 all out in 57.4 overs. For Baroda, Mrunal Devdhar (47), Dixit Patel (37) and Dhiren Mistry (36) were the main scorers. Left-arm spinner Rahul Singh took 5 for 40 and off-spinner Gurvinder Singh (3-59) and Bipul Sharma (2-4) were the other wicket takers for HP. At close, Bipul Sharma (24) was at the crease, while Baba Safi Pathan claimed 2 for nine for Baroda.
