Kanpur: It was an emotional farewell to the historic Green Park Stadium on Sunday as Kanpur XI defeated MP XI by 13 runs to lift the Gaurav Cup in a friendly match, marking the last cricketing action at the 76-year-old venue before it undergoes a major renovation.
Farewell Match Celebrates Iconic Venue Ahead of Renovation
The state government has allocated Rs 45 crore for the renovation of the iconic cricket venue. In a farewell match organized by local MP Ramesh Awasthi, thousands of cricket fans gathered to pay tribute to the site before its upcoming renovation. This event marks a significant moment as the community bids an emotional goodbye to a beloved landmark in the sport.
Put in to bat, Kanpur XI, led by former Ranji Trophy player Ankit Rajput, posted 173 for four in 15 overs. Openers Shubham (33) and Akanshu Govil (28) provided a solid start, putting on 69 runs for the opening wicket in six overs. In reply, MP XI managed 160 for four in its allotted 15 overs. Former India cricketer Yusuf Pathan and Shashank gave the visitors a flying start, adding 80 runs for the opening wicket in 6.4 overs. Pathan top-scored with 52, hitting seven boundaries and three sixes, while Shashank contributed 21. Sumit and Sunil Tripathi scored 18 and 34, respectively.
Rajput then entertained the crowd with an aggressive cameo, smashing one boundary and five sixes in just eight balls before retiring hurt. Gopal Singh added to the excitement by hitting four sixes in the final over.