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Jailbirds hit the pitch
WHEN UP players were toiling hard against West Bengal in the Ranji Trophy final at KD Singh ?Babu? stadium on Thursday, there was another cricket match going on in the city and more than 2500 people were watching it. It was not the game between two professional sides but a match between those players who broke the law and landed in jail.
WHEN UP players were toiling hard against West Bengal in the Ranji Trophy final at KD Singh ‘Babu’ stadium on Thursday, there was another cricket match going on in the city and more than 2500 people were watching it.
It was not the game between two professional sides but a match between those players who broke the law and landed in jail.
The inmates of Lucknow Model Jail and District Jail clashed in a cricket match inside the premises of district jail on Thursday. The match was played with the spirit of great competition and sportsmanship. The result hardly mattered in these occasions only the spirit of sports wins said Jail superintendent of district jail SMH Rizvi before the start of the match. And the players of both sides proved these words correct. They just competed but never fought, they played but in the right spirit.
The faces of usually quiet and tense inmates watching the game were bubbling with joy. They were supporting their own teams. Some of them even tried to motivate them by singing songs.
The team of model jail won the toss and elected to bat first. Captain of model jail Sageer opened the batting with his partner Onkar but both were send pavilion by Atique who went on to claim 4 wickets of model jail. Finally Model Jail was all out in the 13 over on the score of 104. Replying to the total, the district jail lost its openers quickly but solid batting performance by Santosh who scored 45 not out runs won the game for district jail inmates by three wickets in 13 over.
Santosh was declared Man of the Match for his victorious knock of 45 runs. For the first time in the history of Lucknow, a friendly cricket match between the inmates of two jails, was organised with the help of Jail Superintendents of both the jails.
The news of UP nearing its solo Ranji Trophy win created a waveof happiness amongst the inmates playing cricket.
“I have relived my past inside the jail today, this game of cricket inside the jail has brought back the memories of my playing days,” said Man of the Match Santosh. He added, “We are inside the prison to improve ourselves this game will play its own part in reforming our lives.”
Captain of Model Jail team Sageer thanked the jail authorities for organising such matches. Jail superintendent of Model Jail Suresh Chandra said, “. In Model Jail most of the inmates are life time convicts, they don’t have anything for their recreation and their development. With these types of activities sportsman spirit inside the convicts would be raised. Which would help them in leading a better life in future.”
