In a gripping quarter-final encounter at the Kanpur South Ground on Wednesday, Kanpur South Gymkhana secured a hard-fought victory over Riders Club, winning by four wickets to book their place in the semi-finals of the prestigious Late K S Saxena Memorial Cricket Championship.
Riders Club Sets a Competitive Target
Winning the toss and opting to bat first, Riders Club posted a challenging total of 231 runs for the loss of 8 wickets in their allotted 35 overs. The innings was built on several valuable contributions from the middle order. Shashwat Bandoh top-scored with a solid 51 runs, receiving good support from Lavish Srivastava and Abdul Rehman, who both scored 37 runs each. Aman Singh (26) and an unbeaten 30 from Shivam Patwa towards the end provided the necessary impetus. For the bowling side, Akhilesh Yadav was the pick of the bowlers, claiming three crucial wickets for 46 runs, while Vikas Sharma supported well with two wickets for 47.
South Gymkhana's Chase Led by Stellar Partnership
In reply, Kanpur South Gymkhana approached the chase with determination, ultimately reaching the target of 234 in just 34.3 overs, losing six wickets in the process. The chase was anchored by a magnificent partnership between two key batters. Arpit Awasthi played a brilliant knock of 76 runs, laying a strong foundation. He was ably complemented by Rahul Yadav, who scored a fluent 68 runs. Abhinav Yadav's quickfire 46 runs further accelerated the innings, bringing the team to the brink of victory. For Riders Club, Abdul Rehman tried to pull things back with his bowling, taking three wickets for 46 runs.
Man of the Match and Road Ahead
For his match-winning, composed innings of 68 runs that steered his team to victory, Rahul Yadav was deservedly awarded the Man of the Match title. This victory propels Kanpur South Gymkhana into the semi-final stage of the championship, keeping their title hopes alive. The team will look to carry this winning momentum forward in their next knockout fixture. The match was a fine exhibition of competitive local cricket in Kanpur, showcasing emerging talent and thrilling performances.
