WELL DONE, MATE...Elf Vengsarkar Academy `A' mates Paul Valthaty (197), on the left, compliments his skipper Soham Dalvi (125) after the duo strung a massive 265-run stand against EVA `B' in the Elf Cup tournament.

MUMBAI, May 7: The Brijesh Patel-Imtiaz Ahmed Academy, Bangalore lost their last league match but still made the final of the national-level cricket tournament for the Elf Cup a the Elf-Vengsarkar Academy, Oval Maidan, here, today.

The Bangalore outfit who were drubbed by Sambaran Banerjee Academy, Calcutta by eight wickets today face the same team, who finished with an all-win record in the league, in the final scheduled for tomorrow.

BPIAA and Pune XI, who defeated Tissot Academy by eight wickets today, finished with six points each but BPIAA's victory in the league over the latter gave them the berth in the final.

Pune XI will now clash with Elf-Vengsarkar Academy `A', who recorded a massive 258-run victory over their B team, for the third and fourth placings. EVA `A' openers Soham Dalvi and Paul Valthaty ran riot at the Karnataka Sports Club, Cross Maidan resutling in the side posting a huge total of 402 for 3 in the alloted 35 overs. The two 13-year-olds not only strung a 265-run stand in just 23.1 overs but also raked up their personal tally too. While the eighth class student of Don Bosco High School (Borivali), Valthaty, smashed 197 off 100 balls, inclusive of 33 boundaries and five sixes, Shardashram High School (English) eight class pupil, Davli cracked 125 laden with 23 fours and one six and came off 81 balls.

In reply, the EVA `B' were never in the chase and but battled well to end up with a score of 144-5 on the board.

Brief scores: BPIAA, Bangalore 132-9 in 35 overs (Deepak Chowgule 34, Vikrant Shetty 30 n.o., Mohd Misbahuddin 2-28, Prabhat Tiwari 3-21) lost to SBA, Calcutta 134-2 in 19.5 overs (Vishwanath Agarwal 30, Saumik Chanda 37 n.o., Mohd Misbahuddin 24, Javed Ali 35 n.o) by eight wickets. Man of the Match: Saumik Chanda.

Tissot Academy, Delhi 170 in 34.2 overs (Puneet Sharma 22, Manish Tomar 68, Lalit Rana 23; Rohan Narang 3-20, Sandesh Pawaskar 3-35) lost to Pune XI 172-2 in 29.3 overs (Yogesh Takwale 50, Darshan Awate 61, Rohan Dharwat 26 n.o) by eight wickets. Man of the Match: Yogesh Takwale.

At Karnataka Sports CLub, Cross Maidan: EVA `A' 402-3 in 35 overs (Soham Dalvi 125, Paul Valthaty 197; Tanmay Joshi 2-58) beat EVA `B' 144-5 in 35 overs (Neil Daftary 54 n.o., Mayank Dayal 41; Sangram Bagul 2-8). Man of the Match: Paul Valthaty.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.