Tata SC advanced to the semifinals of the inaugural BCCI Corporate Cup after their crucial last Group C match against Indian Oil was washed out due to continuous downpour at the serene Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association stadium on Thursday.

Ajit Agarkar-led Tata SC, by virtue of their win against All India Public Sector Sports Promotion Board (AIPSSPB) in the rain-truncated Group C opener on Tuesday, moved to the last four stage. They will face the toppers of Group A, either Indian Revenue or Air India Blue on Sunday at Mohali.

Indian Oil desperately needed a win from Thursday’s match for a semifinal berth, especially after rain marred their opening encounter against AIPSSPB on Wednesday.

However, to the disappointment of the Wasim Jaffer led side, persistent rain did not allow a single ball being bowled for the second consecutive day, leaving them out of the tournament without even playing a single match.

With one win and two points from Thursday’s abandoned match against Indian Oil, Tata topped Group C with six points, while Jaffer’s side ended up with four points from two washed out matches. AIPSSPB finished at the bottom with only two points.

Persistent showers since last night did not give umpires K Hariharan and Rajesh Deshpande even a chance to consider for a truncated match as the entire HPCA ground was waterlogged, resembling an artificial pond. The match officials were left with no other option but to cancel the match.

A disappointed Indian Oil captain Wasim Jaffer held the scheduling of the tournament during the monsoons responsible for his side’s ouster from the event.

“It’s really disappointing to get out of the tournament without playing a match but we don’t have control over nature. The tournament is an encouraging step from the BCCI’s part but they could have scheduled it a couple of weeks later,” the right-handed opener said.

“It’s not just here, rain is playing spoilsport at Mohali and Bangalore as well.”

Meanwhile, match referee Manu Nayyar said there was no provision under rules to re-schedule the match.

“The decision to abandon the match was in keeping with the rules. There is no question of rescheduling it as the rule book doesn’t allow us to do so,” he said.

Steady rain and wet outfield on Wednesday, saw the match between Indian Oil and AIPSSPB abandoned without a ball being bowled and both the sides were awarded two points apiece.

Persistent rain had cast a shadow over the entire Group C leg of the tournament. The teams, which arrived here on Monday, did not get enough chance to do practice as the continuous downpour kept them largely confined to their hotel rooms.

The Indian cricket board on Thursday unveiled inaugural Sahara BCCI Corporate Trophy, with a number of cricketers including master batsman Sachin Tendulkar and Yuvraj Singh in attendance.

The 12-team tournament, aiming at reviving the waning corporate interest in the game, will be held in four venues across the country – Mohali, Vishakhapatnam, Dharamsala and Bangalore.

The trophy was unveiled by BCCI secretary N Srinivasan, joint secretary Sanjay Jagdale and corporate communications chief of Sahara Group Abhijit Sarkar.

Most of the Indian cricketer, including captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, will be seen in action during the one-day tournament to be held from September 1-8.

Speaking at the launching ceremony, which appeared to be a low-key event without much fanfare despite the presence of Tendulkar and Yuvraj, Srinivasan said over the years corporate interest in the game has declined.

However, Srinivasan was quick to add that introduction of the Indian Premier League has indeed “revived the corporate rivalries” to an extent.

Former India captain Rahul Dravid, speaking on behalf of the cricketers, lauded the BCCI’s initiative to conduct such a tournament and termed it a “great step in reinvigorating” corporate interest in the game of cricket.

The participating teams are Indian Revenue, ITC, Air India – Blue, BPCL, MRF, ONGC, AIPSSPB, Tata Sports Club, Indian Oil, Air India-Red, India Cements and BSNL.