BHUBANESWAR 08-Apr-2011 255
East Coast Railway won the Kalahandi Cup Inter-Zonal One-day Tournament, defeating Cuttack-A by 51 runs in the final at Ravenshaw University Ground in Cuttack on Friday. New recruit Natraj Behera played instrumental role in the railway win, hitting a dashing 72.
Put into bat, the railway side compiled a competitive total of 242 for nine in the stipulated 50 overs. In reply, Cuttack-A were bowled out for 191 in 45.1 overs despite a defiant knock of 89 by in-form batsman Girija Rout.
Meanwhile, host Orissa Cricket Association announced the schedule of the three-day format of the Kalahandi Cup inter-zonal tournament, which will also be conducted at different grounds in Cuttack from April 10 to 28. Among the eight participating zones, Bhubaneswar `A`, East Coast Railway, Zone-I and Zone-III have been placed in Group-A, while Group-B has been formed with Cuttack `A`, Rourkela, Zone-II and Zone-IV.
After completion of 12 group league matches, top two teams from each group will advance to the semifinals. The final will tke place at Barabati Stadium from April 26 to 28.
BRIEF Score: East Coast Railway 242/9 in 50 overs (Natraj Behera 72, Rashmi Ranjan Das 47, Lagnajit Samal 38; Biplab Samantaray 3/41, Santosh Jena 2/33) beat Cuttack `A` 191/10 in 45.1 overs (Girija Rout 89, Niranjan Behera 32; Sourabh Sehgal 2/30, Rakesh Mohanty 2/32).
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PHOTO: East Coast Railway team poses after winning the Kalahandi Cup inter-zonal one-day title in Cuttack on April 8, 2011.