Elsewhere at Purwakarta on Sunday, defending champions KLN WISCI pulled off a close win against close title contenders WPP IndiaXI when they won by 3 runs by virtue of a better run rate, when play was halted due to heavy downpour. According to KLNWISCI skipper William Noronha, in what could “easily be one of their best wins in a decade”, WISCI snatched victory from the jaws of defeat. Led by Naidu’s onslaught (70 runs) and sitting pretty at 92/1 after 12 overs chasing a modest target of 179 in a smallish ground, it was WPP’s game to lose from thereon. Splendid bowling from Indonesian talent Gamantika Kadek, Suhail Modak and Aman Singh helped WISCI claw their way back into the game when they conceded just 63 runs off the next 19 overs. At the time of play being called off, WPP had reached 155/5 in 31 overs, 3 runs short of where they needed to be to secure a win. With the ground resembling an agricultural field and no further play possible, WPP were left ruing their chances caused by some poor game planning.

Earlier, on a gloomy morning WPP made a brisk start with the ball knocking off the WISCI top order quickly. With Opener Viraj Bhammar holding one end up with 67* and Dave Holme scoring 36 runs, WISCI reached a below par score of 178/8 which in the end proved sufficient to secure a win – only just!!! Kartik 2/36 & Pallav 2/33 were the main wicket-takers for WPP India XI

Thanks to the umpires Amit & Dhimanshu from Jaguar CC who had a tough job to manage a key game and take decisions around the rain & ground conditions.