Khanolkar, Pagnis take Railways to 7-wicket win over K'taka

Mumbai, Apr 19 (UNI) Shreyas Khanolkar struck a blistering unbeaten 47 off 31 balls to take Railways to a comprehensive seven-wicket win over Karnataka in the last inconsequential match of Group 'A' of the inaugural inter-state Twenty20 championship at the Brabourne stadium here today.

Railways set a target of 163 to win made 163 for 3 in 19.1 overs to clinch the victory. However, this match had been reduced to an inconsequential one with Punjab already having qualified for the final from this group.

Karnataka batting first rattled up a decent score of 162 for five, with Thilak Naidu making a 33 ball 44 with four boundaries and a six. He was well supported by Dinesh Chougule, who made an unbeaten 28 of 22 balls with three boundaries, and B Akhil made an unbeaten 29 of just 14 balls with three boundaries and two sixers. Sanjib Sanyal with two for 28 was among the wickets for Railways.

In reply, the Railways lost their captain Sanjay Bangar for zero, but Amit Pagnis and T P Singh kept them in the hunt with some lusty hitting. Pagnis had to retire after making 45 due to cramps. His knock came in 32 balls and was studded with six boundaries. T P Singh also made a useful 26 ball 29 with one four and a six, before Khanolkar took them to victory making an unbeaten 47 from just 31 balls with four boundaries and two sixers.

Earlier in the morning, Punjab sealed their place in the final with an all-win record defeating Orissa by an emphatic 71-run margin.

Replying to an imposing Punjab score of 201 for 5, the bottom-placed Orissa succumbed to pressure and could manage just 130 for 7.

Brief scores: Karnataka 162 for five in 20 overs (R Uthappa 31, Thilak Naidu 44, S Sanyal 2-28) lost to Railways 163 for three (S Khanolkar 47 not out, A Pagnis 45 retd. hurt) by seven wickets.

UNI