lluri Ajay Kumar Reddy will lead the Indian blind cricket team in the Asia Cup T-20 championship to be held in Kochi from January 17 to 24, 2016. The 25-year-old has appeared in 10 ODIs and 16 T20s for India. He was the vice-captain of the side during victorious T20 World Cup in 2012 at Bengaluru. He was also the player of the tournament in the T20 tourney. Ajay, en employee of the State Bank of Hyderabad, said, “I am confident that this Indian team will lift the first Asia Cup for blind.” Ajay, a right-handed fast bowler and top-order batsman, has scored 676 runs and plucked 27 wickets in T20 cricket. Swastic emerge champions

R Samarth's fine fifty helped Swastic Union Cricket Club defeat Jawans Cricket Club by five wickets to grab the KSCA T20 tournament at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. Batting by choice, Jawans were powered by Mohammed Taha (42) and Nishanth Singh (45) to 168 for six runs in 20 overs. Shreyas Gopal (two for 44) and S L Akshay (two for 35) took two wickets each for Swastic.

Swastic reached the target with three balls to spare. Samarth and Karnataka Ranji skipper R Vinay Kumar slammed 50 and 42 respectively. C M Gautam played the support role to perfection with an unbeaten 31.

Brief scores: Jawans CC: 168/6 in 20 overs (Mohammad Taha 42, Nishanth Singh 45; Shreyas Gopal 2-44, S L Akshay 2-35) lt to Swastic Union CC: 170/5 in 19.3 overs (R Samarth 50, R Vinay Kumar 42, CM Gautam 31 n.o.; Dikshanshu Negi 2-29).

Title for Century Samuels's 11-wicket haul was the highlight in Century Cricketers' title winning effort in the KSCA Group I, Division IV league-cum-knockout tournament for the Metro Shield. In the final, they overcame Visweswarapuram Cricket Club (2) by one-wicket. Batting first, former Karnataka skipper K Yere Goud and Bharath R scored 82 and 50 respectively as Visweswarapuram made 284 for eight in 55 overs. Samuels (four for 96) was the pick of bowlers for Century. However, Century were bowled out for 237 in their first innings to concede a first-innings lead of 47 runs.

Mahesh P (60) and Prithvi (56) made fine contributions. Veteran left-arm spinner Anand Katti (five for 80) was the chief wicket-taker for Visweswarapuram. However, Visweswarapuram were bundled out for 111 in their second innings in 28.2 over. Samuels wrecked havoc and finished with figures of seven for 42. Chasing 158, Century rode on the knocks of Ullas AR (63) and Praveen (28) to overhaul the target in 29.3 overs, losing nine wickets. For Visweswarapuram, Anand Katti (three for 50) and Akshay Chenniga ( four for 50) grabbed wickets. Brief scores: Visweswarapuram CC (2): 284/8 in 55 overs (Venkatesh P 30, Bharath R 50, Yere Goud 82; Samuels 4-96) and 111 all out in 28.2 overs (Venkatesh P 25; Samuels 7-42, Suresh 3-50) lost to Century Cricketers: 237 all out in 54.5 overs (Prithvi 56, Pramodh 39, Mahesh P 60; Anand Katti 5-80, Manoj B 2-17) and 159/9 in 29.3 overs (Ullas AR 63; Praveen 28; Anand Katti 3-50, Akshay Chenniga 4-50). Cottons, Joseph's emerge champs

Hosts Bishop Cotton Boys’ School beat Ebenezer International School in the under-15 final of the Cottonian Shield inter-school cricket tournament. In the Under-13 title clash, St Joseph’s Boys' High School outclassed Bishop Cotton. Brief scores: U-15: Bishop Cotton Boys’ School: 168/7 in 20 overs (Suraj 62, Aneesh 67) bt Ebenezer International School: 142/7 in 20 overs (Sanjay 27, Mahantesh 31, Tarun 3/23). U-13: St. Joseph’s Boys School: 117/6 in 20 overs (Chinmay 50, Akash 28) bt Bishop Cotton Boys’ School: 95/9 in 20 overs Iqbal felicitated

The Tamil Nadu Cricket Association felicitaed M K Iqbal, the veteran chief coach of AVM Cricket Academy for completing 40 years in cricket coaching. The function was organised at Avichi School (Virugambakkam), and it was attended by the coaches and students of AVMCA. U Prabhakar Rao, Vice-President, TNCA presided over the function and Kasi Viswanathan, secretary TNCA, was the chief guest. Dr R N Baba, secretary of the Tiruvallur District Cricket Association, presented the keynote address.