Tata Steel continued to win the goodwill of politicians, bureaucrats and mediamen by organing the Friendship Cup Cricket Tournament, albeit after a gap of one year at Kalinga Stadium here today. Maintaining their hegemony in the tournament, Media XI emerged champions for the fifth time in a row, defeating arch-rivals Bureaucrats’ XI in the final by 23 runs.
Media XI allrounder Abdul Aziz hit a sparkling 46 to be adjudged the man of the final match. Prizes for best batsman and best bowler were bagged by Media XI’s of Manoj Mohapatra and Faizal Ali respectively. Bureaucrat XI’s Ramaswamy, who slammed a defiant unbeaten 57 in the final, was named the best allrounder. His teammates G Rajesh and Deba Priya Biswal pocketed the prizes as best wicketkeeper and best fielder respectively.