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The inaugural M. Pallonji Cricket Tournment 2013 got underway at the West Bay Cricket Complex yesterday. 15 teams are participating in the first division and 20 teams in the second.
Chidananda Naik, General Manager of M. Pallonji, inaugurated the tournament by playing a ball in the presence of Qatar Veterans’ organising committee members.
In the first match, sponsors M. Pallonji thrashed Jaidah by six wickets. Jaidah took the first share of the crease after winning the toss. Veteran Chidananda provided Pallonji the breakthrough in the very first over - opener Max caught by Praveen for a duck. Thereafter, Jaidah were under pressure and were bundled out for a paltry total of 68 runs in 17.1 overs. Kelum and Nagarajan were the only batsmen to reach the double figure mark.
For Pallonji, Nitin was the pick of the bowlers with three wickets. Amol also contributed with two wickets while Chidananda, Raviraj, Praven and Shailesh took one wicket apiece.
In reply, M. Pallonji also made a shaky start losing opener Suraj for a duck - caught by Rahim off the bowling of Sabir.
Other opener Shailesh remained not out on 28 with three sixes and two boundaries.
Ayub contributed with a breezy 21 runs with the help of three sixes. M. Pallonji got the required runs in just 7.5 overs losing five wickets. Shailesh of Pallonji walked away with the man of the match award.