Corporates take part in the Cric’ennis 2007 tournament at the Tube Makers Club in Nildih. Picture by Srinivas

Jamshedpur, Jan. 12: Cricket and tennis are out, it’s their deadly combination that is keeping corporates on their toes.

Cric’ennis — the popular tournament of cricket played with a tennis ball is winning hearts, and none other than star cricketer Kapil Dev would arrive as a special guest in the final match of the on-going tournament organised by the Tubemaker’s club.

Clearly enthusiastic about the former captain’s presence, the vice-president of the club said: “We had talks with a host of big names but he is sure to be the ultimate crowd-puller at the game,” said Ranjit Basu.

Designed on the lines of cricket with a lot of fun rules, the game is being played at the corporate level for the first time and the presence of big names has given more mileage to the tournament.

Inaugurated on January 6 by Sanjiv Paul, the managing director of Jusco, the league matches have seen some very interesting moments.

In the game, which begins with a score of 100 for both sides, the top score of the season is 281 runs, with the lowest being a mere 128. The participation of two ladies is also compulsory in the game.

Shashi Singh, who made her debut in this tournament, won the Man of the Match award in one of the matches.

Cric’ennis 2007 has seen the participation of corporate honchos like Vivek Kamra, executive in-charge of the Tubes Division and Suresh Thawani, managing director of JAMIPOL.

The list of corporates battling it out at the pitch include an Tayo Rolls Limited, Tata Steel Limited, Jusco, Tinplate Company of India Limited, Tata Power Limited, Tubes Division, Tata Motors and RSB Transmission.

With the first of the quarter finals scheduled to be held on January 14 between Tata Steel and Jusco, the second quarter-finals would see Tinplate Company of India and TRF, who have already booked a place for themselves by registering comprehensive wins in the earlier rounds.

Two more back-to-back quarter-finals are slated to be held on January 18 and 19 with the grand finale scheduled on January 28.