da bet7： The Combined Zonal Cricket Academies (ZCA) side was handed a soundthrashing by the National Cricket Academy (NCA) at the RSI Grounds inBangalore today
Staff Reporter22-Jul-2009The Combined Zonal Cricket Academies (ZCA) side was handed a soundthrashing by the National Cricket Academy (NCA) at the RSI Grounds inBangalore today. After winning the toss and electing to bat, the ZCAboys could put together only a modest 204 all out in 41 overs. Inresponse, NCA openers Gautam Gambhir (120) and Gulzar Singh (79) puton an unbeaten opening partnership 205 in just 31.4 overs to send thebowlers scurrying for cover, taking their side to a handsome tenwicket win in the process. Due to overnight rain, the start of playwas delayed and the match was reduced to 45 overs a side.The day began well for the Combined ZCA side as openers Paul Valthaty(35) and Ritesh Jaiswal put on 61 for the first wicket before theformer was scalped by Raza Ali. With Stuart Binny, son of formerIndian all-rounder Roger Binny, playing a breezy knock of 44 (39balls, 3 fours, 2 sixes) it looked like the Combined ZCA side mightpost a good total. At the fall of Binny’s wicket however, the collapsebegan. With none of the remaining batsmen reaching even 15, the NCAside were able to restrict the Combined ZCA team total. Left armseamer and former India Under-19 cricketer Shallabh Srivastav with4/46 was easily the pick of the bowlers.If the Combined ZCA side had thoughts of making early inroads and amatch of it, they had another thing coming. Delhi southpaw Gambhirsettled the matter with a superb unbeaten century. His 120 came offjust 102 balls. Striking the ball crisply to the fence on 17occasions, Gambhir dominated the scoring. But Gulzar Inder Singh, wasnot far behind. The right hand bat struck six boundaries and two sixeson the way to a 91-ball 79. In all, there was little the inexperiencedCombined ZCA bowlers could do. Apart from Bihar’s Mihir Diwakar, whoconceded only 18 runs in five overs, all the others took some stick.