Karnataka tops with 25 points, Kerala finishes second

Panaji, Feb 18 (UNI) Classy half centuries by Rajilal and Rakesh K G propelled Kerala to score a three-wicket win over host Goa with a bonus point, and to finish second with 18 points in the Under-25 South Zone inter state P S Ram Mohan Rao Trophy limited overs cricket tournament, which concluded here today.

Karnataka, who had already emerged champions, today defeated Tamilnadu by 73 runs, also with bonus points, at MCC ground in Margao in South Goa. While in the third match of the day Hyderabad defeated Andhra Pradesh by 17 runs at SAG ground Margao.

Karnataka topped the table with 25 points winning all their five matches with bonus points, followed by Kerala with 18 points, Tamilandu with 12 points, Andhra Pradesh with three points and Hyderabad and Host Goa with one point each from five matches. Today was the concluding day of the round of matches.

Kerala after winning the toss put host Goa into the bat and skittled them out for 192 all out in 48.4 overs. Except, Madhu Kamat's 49, laced with four fours, Rajshekar Harikant who scored 22 , Amit Yadav's 26 and Sandeep D'Mello's 21, no other host batsmen made any significant contribution.

Prashant P claimed three wickets conceding 29 runs and V S Siju bagged two wickets giving away 22 runs.

Kerala, chasing the host total, scored the required 193 runs in 39.1 overs losing their seven wickets on a strength of Rakesh K G's 61 (7x4,1x6 in73balls) and equally valuable 59 by Rajilal's (7x4, 3x6, in 43 balls).

Goa's Amit Yadav and Vidhadhar Kamat claimed two wickets each giving give 25 and 16 runs respectively.

At MCC ground Margao, Karnataka after winning the toss elected to bat and amassed 220 for 8 in 50 overs with a fine contribution from K Avinsh's 60 and then skittled out Tamilnadu for a paltry 147 all out in 35 overs.

Brief Score: Goa: (192 all out in 48.4 overs) Madhu Kamat - 49, Amit Yadav - 26, Rajshekar Harikant - 22, Sandeep D'Mello - 21, Sachin Sardesai - 18. Prashant P - three for 29, V S Siju - two for 22.

Kerala: (193 for 7 in 39.1 overs) Rakesh K G - 61, Rajilal - 59, Arun Poulose - 20, Rizwan - 18. Amit Yadav - 2 for 25, V Kamat - 2 for 16.

Karnataka: (220 for 8 in 50 overs) K Avinash - 60, C M Gautam - 29, S T Manjunath - 23, Abrar Kazi - 24, S Deshappan - two for 38, R Sutesh - two for 41.

Tamilnadu: 147 all out in 35 overs E Ashwin - 40, W Victor - 57. Ryan Ninan - three for 16, Aditya S agar - two for 32, A Abhisek - two for 23.

Hyderabad: (211 for 9 in 50 overs) Vishal Krishna - 65, Bharat Kumar - 36 Vasim Ali - 29, Atchut Rao - two for 33, Samir Ali Khan - three for 43, Dinesh Kumar two for 14.

Andhra Pradesh: (194 all out in 45.5 overs) S Kranti - 65, V Lenin - 49, Sarvesh - four for 58, Sridhar - three for 29, Bharat Kumar - two for 12.

UNI SRN SR SKB1919