On top: Madhya Pradesh emerged the champion of the Buchi Babu tournament. 
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

 

Madhya Pradesh went about its job clinically on the final day to defeat Delhi by 250 runs and win the Take Sports All India Buchi Babu tournament at the Sri Ramakrishna College ground here on Monday.

Resuming at 129 for six with a lead of 298, MP needed to avoid a batting collapse. Fortunately, Sumit Kushwah and Aryan Deshmukh (46) batted out the first 12 overs as MP slowly stretched its lead.

After Kushwah was run out, MP was bowled out for 172 but still had a healthy lead of 341. Delhi’s left-arm spinner Shivank Vashisht (five for 43), who had four wickets on the third day, completed his five-for when he removed Adheer Pratap Singh.

Delhi, which had 65 overs to chase 342, needed a quick start to be in with a chance, but the top-order succumbed to left-arm pacer Kulwant Khejroliya’s fiery spell (4-1-12-3) within the first five overs.

Striking thrice

The 31-year-old, who moved from Delhi this year, struck thrice in his first three overs to leave his former team tottering at 17 for four and sealed the tie for MP. Khejroliya (three for 24) had Arpit Rana and skipper Himmat Singh caught behind while Jonty Sidhu flicked straight to mid-wicket.

After lunch, off-spinners Shubham Sharma and Adheer Pratap Singh (three for 22) spun a web around the Delhi batters who tried to take on the bowlers and kept losing wickets regularly. The match ended 20 minutes before the tea break when Yogesh Sharma was stumped off Adheer, with Hrithik Shokeen unable to bat due to a split webbing in his left hand.

MP coach Chandrakant Pandit said, “It was a great experience for the young, talented boys. The way they have played the entire tournament, they can take a lot of confidence and continue. There were a lot of good individual performances as well.”

Pandit, who guided the team to Ranji Trophy triumph in 2021-22, added that the senior team’s success is making the youngsters believe in themselves more to overcome challenging situations and turn things around.

The scores: Madhya Pradesh 370 & 172 in 75.5 overs (Aryan Deshmukh 46, Shivank Vashisht 5/43) bt Delhi 201 & 91 in 28.4 overs.

Special awards: Player of the final: Shivank Vashisht (Delhi); Player of the tournament: Sumit Kushwah (MPCA); Best batter: Aniket Verma (MPCA); Best bowler: Hrithik Shokeen (Delhi); Best all-rounder: Shubham Sharma (MPCA).

M.P. Ramesh, great-grandson of Buchi Babu Naidu watching the Buchi Babu tournament final in Coimbatore.
| Photo Credit: M. PERIASAMY

There was a special visitor to watch Madhya Pradesh and Delhi battle in the final of the Buchi Babu tournament, which has been revived after five years, here on Sunday.

P. Ramesh was a former Tamil Nadu and South Zone batter who played 30 First Class matches. More importantly, he is a living symbol of the legacy left behind by a man in whose memory the tournament is being held.

The 70-year-old Ramesh is the great-grandson of Buchi Babu Naidu, known as the ‘Father of Madras Cricket’, for having promoted the sport among the local population in the city in the late 19th and early 20th century before his untimely demise in 1908.

Speaking to The Hindu, a visibly pleased Ramesh said, “I am so happy they have revived the tournament. Last year, when I met the TNCA president and secretary, I requested them to revive the tournament, and they kept the promise. It is a prestigious tournament and offers a good chance for youngsters to play at a higher level of cricket and learn the nuances of the game from the seniors,” he said.

Ramesh made a century on his Ranji Trophy debut for TN against Karnataka, facing the likes of Erapalli Prasanna and B.S. Chandrasekhar.

He later was a South Zone selector for the Colts team and recalled selecting Rahul Dravid and Anil Kumble for the under-19 team.

Ramesh, who will give the trophy on Monday, also said he was pleased with how the tournament has been organised and added that his wish is to see a stand in Chepauk named after his great-grandfather.

Making inroads: Madhya Pradesh’s Gurjar’s four-wicket haul pegged back Delhi’s progress.
| Photo Credit: M. PERIASAMY

 

On a day in which 12 wickets fell, Madhya Pradesh continued to hold the edge against Delhi after taking the crucial first-innings lead on the third day of the Take Sports All India Buchi Babu tournament final at the Sri Ramakrishna College ground here on Sunday.

Pacers Ramveer Gurjar (4/43) and Kulwant Khejroliya (3/38) led the way for MP to help restrict Delhi to just 201 in the first innings and secure their side a healthy 169-run lead.

However, MP made a mess of things in its second innings as the top-order collapsed to finish the day on 129 for six, with a lead of 298.

Earlier, the two MP left-arm pacers operated with pace and accuracy to bowl out Delhi at the stroke of lunch by taking the last six wickets for just 67 runs.

Khejroliya kicked things off for MP when he had overnight batter Lakshay Thareja caught at slip before Aryan Deshmukh had Hrithik Shokeen caught behind.

With the second new ball, Gurjar removed Sumit Mathur with a peach of a delivery that squared up the left-hander to clip the off-stump and then had Siddhant Sharma caught at first slip.

Only Shivank Vashisht provided a semblance of a fight for Delhi as he made a valiant 83 before he got run out tamely. The batter took it easy while trying to complete a third run and failed to ground his bat in time as he tried to duck for the throw coming in from the deep.

Vashisht (4/35) returned strongly with an impressive bowling performance, taking four wickets. The left-arm spinner used his variations well, getting Aniket Verma and Rishabh Chouhan nicking behind while he bowled MP skipper Shubham Sharma with a delivery that came in with the arm to give his side some hope.

If Delhi can restrict MP’s lead to less than 350, it will fancy its chances of going for the target, having nothing to lose.

The scores:

Madhya Pradesh 370 & 129/6 in 53 overs (Shivank Vashisht 4/35) vs Delhi 201 in 89.4 overs (Shivank Vashisht 83, Ramveer Gurjar 4/43).

Bending his back: Delhi medium-pacer Siddhant rattled the MP middle-order with the second new ball.
| Photo Credit: M. PERIASAMY

Despite a batting collapse, Madhya Pradesh was at an advantage against Delhi at the end of day two in the Take Sports All India Buchi Babu tournament final at the Sri Ramakrishna College ground here on Saturday.

Resuming at 271 for three, MP lost it last seven wickets for just 79 runs to be bowled out for 370 at the stroke of lunch.

However, the MP pacers struck early blows to leave Delhi tottering at 59 for four at one stage before Shivank Vashisht steadied the ship with a patient unbeaten 44 to take his side to 126 for four at stumps.

Earlier, Delhi’s Siddhant Sharma (three for 53) produced an inspired spell (8-1-12-3) with the second new ball and ran through MP’s middle-order.

The left-arm pacer first had overnight batter Adheer Pratap Singh trapped leg-before with a good yorker before dismissing Rishabh Chouhan — last game’s double-centurion — caught down the leg side for a duck. He then sent back Sumit Kushwah (114), who was caught behind, going for an expansive shot outside the off-stump.

Off-spinner Hrithik Shokeen (three for 80) chipped in with two wickets before left-arm spinner Vashisht (three for 53) cleaned up the last two batters.

For MP, Aman Bhadoria’s quickfire 42 off 28 ensured his side went past 350. He smashed Shokeen for two consecutive fours and a six in an over before doing the same to Siddhant with a cover drive, a slash through point and a pull over the long-on fence.

While the pitch is still a good batting surface, there were signs of wear with the odd deliveries keeping low and Delhi will need one of its batters to make a big score if it has to go past MP’s total.

The scores: Madhya Pradesh 370 in 118.5 overs (Arham Aqueel 65, Sumit Kushwah 114, Aniket Verma 68, Aman Bhadoria 42) vs Delhi 126/4 in 58 overs (Shivank Vashisht 44 batting).