Patna: The Indradev Rai Memorial Cricket Tournament commenced with an energetic opening at the Sanjay Gandhi Stadium (GAC Ground) in Gardanibagh on Thursday, 2 January. Organised under the banner of Kumar Club, the tournament began with an impressive victory for LBS CC, who defeated Blaze CC by 58 runs in the inaugural match.
The event was inaugurated by notable dignitaries, including Legislative Councillor Sanjay Singh, former Mayor of Patna Shyam Babu Rai, Bihar Football Association Secretary Syed Imtiaz Hussain, Vice President of Takht Harmandir Sahib Sardar Gurvinder Singh, Ward Councillor Jai Prakash, Shashi Bhushan, and Patna Football Association Secretary Manoj Kumar. The dignitaries marked the occasion by releasing balloons and meeting the players.
Several former cricketers, footballers, and badminton players were honoured during the opening ceremony, receiving recognition for their contributions to sports. The patron of the organising committee, Ram Ishwar Prasad, extended a warm welcome to the guests, while Organising Secretary Aditya Yogesh expressed his appreciation for their support. Convener Ashok Kumar Sinha announced that the next match, featuring Anisabad and Karbighiya, would take place on 3 January.
Match Report:
Blaze CC won the toss and opted to field first. LBS CC capitalised on their batting opportunity, posting a competitive total of 166 runs for five wickets in 20 overs. Yuvraj played a brilliant knock of 68 runs, while Balaji contributed 40 runs to the team’s score.
In reply, Blaze CC struggled to build momentum and managed only 108 runs for eight wickets in their 20 overs. Shaurya Pratap Singh was the standout performer for Blaze CC with a knock of 38 runs. The highlight of the match was an exceptional bowling performance by Om Prakash of LBS CC, who claimed four wickets for just seven runs, earning him the Player of the Match award.
Brief Scores:
- LBS CC: 166/5 in 20 overs (Yuvraj 68, Balaji 40, Extras 30; Shivam Akhouri 2/30, Keshav Raj 1/17, Mihir Kumar 1/15)
- Blaze CC: 108/8 in 20 overs (Shaurya Pratap Singh 38, Shivam Akhouri not out 14, Keshav Raj not out 10, Extras 29; Om Prakash 4/7, Krishna Tiwari 2/14, Deepak Kumar 1/19, Arnab Dutta 1/16)
