Madras Cricket Club lift first title in rain-hit final

TWO-time winners Singhalese Sports Club's hopes of regaining the Singapore Cricket Club International Twenty20 Tournament trophy were dashed yesterday when they lost to Madras Cricket Club (MCC) by 23 runs in the final at the Padang.

The side from Sri Lanka had brought five noted internationals in a bid to avenge their semi-final loss in 2012. But they could do very little against the Indian outfit MCC who batted and bowled cleverly to claim their maiden title in the fourth edition of the tournament.

In a match reduced to 18 overs a side due to the afternoon showers, MCC put up a modest 147-7, with Rajagopal Sathish (32 runs off 16 balls) and Martin Sanjeev (36 off 24) propping up the innings.

The total appeared to be easy pickings for SSC, but they were pegged back by the accuracy of the MCC medium-pacers who bundled the Colombo team out for 124 in 24 overs.

"It was very evenly contested until MCC's Rajat Bhatia ran out Chamara Kapugedera with a direct hit from point," said former Singapore national team captain Stacey Muruthi, who watched the match. "From 76-4 in the 11th over SSC kept losing wickets as they attempted to increase their run rate. MCC played smart cricket to win."

India international L. Balaji claimed 4-31 with a brilliant spell at the death for MCC, whose captain Gautham Gopal said: "The wicket was fine but we bowled really well. The medium-pacers in the last few overs did the damage. It feels great to win, especially after losing the final in 2012. We have finally broken our jinx at the Padang on our fourth visit."

Global Indian International School won the Kwik cricket competition for junior boys.

santosh@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on August 25, 2014.
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