Indian Airlines lifts Sheesh Mahal title

Lucknow, May 10 (UNI) Indian Airlines (IA) lifted the title of the Sahara City Homes Sheesh Mahal tournament here today by beating Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) by 21 runs in the final at the K D Singh Babu Stadium here today.

IA received a cash prize of Rs 11 lakhs and a glittering winner's trophy, while runners up PCA bagged a cash prize of Rs 5.5 lakhs and runners up trophy from the chief guest Niranjan shah, secretary of the BCCI.

Besides, right-handed batsman Mohd Kaif was declared 'Man of the series' bagging Rs 51,000 cash prize and a trophy dedicated in memory of the founder of Sheesh Mahal tournament late M Askari Hasan.

The winners batting first struggled in front of the medium pace attack of VRV Singh and spin attack of Ankur Kakkar. Both claimed 4 wickets each. Ritender Singh Sodhi (63) and Deepak Joon(41) defied the attack putting up a 6th wicket partnership of 89 runs.

Rest of the batsmen could not last long. At the end of stipulated 40 overs they collected 175 runs on board at the cost of nine wickets.

PCA too started shakely losing half of the side at a paltry 23 runs on the board and it seemed that the match would be finished soon but Gaurav Gupta (73) stood firm at one end while wickets at the other end kept tumbling regularly.

UNI