Excelsior Correspondent
UDHAMPUR, Oct 2: The fervour and excitement of the T-20 world championship shifted base temporarily from Premadasa Stadium in Colombo to Bikram Park stadium here, during a friendly match between Army XI and Airforce XI, in which the former beat the latter.
The match started with both the teams being introduced to Maj Gen AK Sehgal, GOC 71, Sub Area and AVM, Jasbir Walia, AOC HQ, J&K. The ‘battle lines’ were clearly drawn and audience was cheering for their respective teams.
Air Force XI took off to a majestic start with Wing Commander Anand and Group Captain, AK Gandotra, scoring 44 runs in the initial seven overs. The Army XI not to be undone used all ‘doosra’ and ‘teesra’ to restrict the guest team to 110 runs for the loss of nine wickets.
In reply, opening pair of Army XI, Col HS Brar and Col Vinayak made their intensions clear from the very first ball of the innings and scored 18 runs in their first over with generous contribution from the bowling team by means of Byes and Wides and they scored 37 runs in just 5 overs for the first wicket.
Riding on the good opening partnership, the Army XI never looked tense and went on easily reaching 100 runs in 15 overs. The man of the match Col HS Brar scored the winning runs with a boundry and fell just one short of his half century before the Army XI reached the target.
Lt Gen KT Parnaik, GOC-in-C, Northern Command, gave away the prizes. Lt Col PR Vinayak and Capt S Ahalwat of Army XI were adjudged as best bowler and best all rounder respectively whereas Flt Lt Vipul of Air Force XI was adjudged as best batsman.
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