Jaipur. Royals Management XI beat Authors XI by seven wickets in a friendly twenty20 match at KL Saini Cricket Ground, which was being organised as a part of the DSC Jaipur Literature Festival, at Mansarovar in Jaipur on Wednesday.
Captain of Royals Management XI S Sreesanth and Authors XI skipper Charlie Campbell went for toss on camels. Authors XI won the toss and opted to bat first. James Holland led his team with gutsy 38-run knock, hitting seven boundaries. He was well-supported by opener Sam Carter, who scored 36 runs with the help of six boundaries.
For Royals Management XI, Rajasthan Royals's regular wicket-keeper Dishant Yagnik did a wonderful hat-trick and picked four wickets for just nine runs. From the other end, Ajit Chandela clinched two wickets.
RR team manager Sushil Tulaskar (1/10), CEO Raghu Iyer (1/15), pacer S Sreesanth (1/17) and Tehelka's Editor-in-Chief Tarun Tejpal (1/22) took one wicket each and bundled-out Authors XI at 114 in 19.4 overs.
In the second innings, Royals Management XI chased down the target in just 9.5 overs. S Sreesanth steered the batting line-up with his inspiring 44 run-knock and smashed boundaries all over the ground. He hit four huge sixes and received an overwhelming applause from the large crowds that had gathered to watch the match.
Royals reached 50 in 3.3 overs and 100 in 7.3 overs. Opener Sushil Tulaskar played a steady knock of 46 runs and remained unbeaten to win the match by losing only three wickets.
Dishant Yagnik was adjudged Man-of-the-Match for his four-wicket haul and awarded an autographed bat and other exclusive Rajasthan Royals merchandise. VSM Maj. Gen. KJS Thind, GOC 61st Cavalry Suburbia, honoured all the players and handed over the trophies to both the teams.
"DSC Jaipur Literature Festival and Rajasthan Royals both are the signatures of this state. It's very good to see both of them coming together and hosting this beautiful event. It was a wonderful match and everybody present here enjoyed a lot," Maj. Gen. KJS Thind stated.
Rajasthan Royals CEO Raghu Iyer said, "It was a memorable match and we look forward to making this a yearly feature. The Authors XI put up a great show and we are thankful to DSC Jaipur Literature Fest for giving us this opportunity. I would also like to thank wicket-keeper Dishant Yagnik, star pacer S Sreesanth and team manager Sushil Tulaskar for their marvellous performances."
Vaibhav Gehlot, special invitee to the Working Committee of the Rajasthan Cricket Association, and William Dalrymple, co-founder & co-director of DSC Jaipur Literature Festival, were also present at the match and cheered for both the teams.
To add to the excitement of the glamorous event, the 61st Cavalry Regiment of the Indian Army - one of the three last remaining horsed cavalry army regiments in the world - gave a special performance to mark the occasion.
Brief Scores
AUTH XI: 114 all out in 19.4 overs [James Holland 38 (7x4), Sam Carter 36 (6x4), Alex Preston (2x4); Dishant Yagnik 4/09, Ajit Chandela 2/00].
RM XI: 118 for 3 wkts in 9.5 overs [Sushil Tulaskar 46 n.o. (6x4, 2x6), S Sreesanth 44 (4x4, 4x6), Lakshayi Raj Mewar 15 (3x4); Charlie Campbell 1/38, Joe Craig 1/21, Tom Holland 1/04].
Teams
Royals Management XI: S Sreesanth (captain), Raghu Iyer, Dishant Yagnik, Ajit Chandela, Sushil Tulaskar, Sanjiv Bali, Lakshayi Raj Mewar, Tarun Tejpal, Simon Singh, Rohit Kamra, Surya.
Authors XI: Charlie Campbell (C), Sam Carter, Joe Craig, James Holland, Richard Beard, Alex Preston, Nicholas Hogg, Sebastian Faulks, Anosh Irani, Anthony McGowan, Tom Holland.