The fourth edition of the Bhaskar Thakur Memorial U-12 Cricket Tournament will kick start very soon from March in Mumbai this year. The first season of this competition was played in 2016 and this year the tournament resumes after a hiatus of two years. The tournament has been organized by Arvind Kadam, founder of Sind Cricket Club and Ajinkya Naik, Apex Council Member at the MCA (Mumbai Cricket Association). A total of 64 teams have registered for this tournament, which is registered under the MCA. These 64 teams represent 64 cricket clubs spread across the MCA jurisdiction from Colaba to Dahanu and from Churchgate to Kalyan.
CricketGraph interacted Ajinkya Naik to get some more information about the Bhaskar Thakur Memorial U-12 Cricket Tournament. Naik said, “After a gap of two years due to COVID-19, we are back with this exciting tournament which showcases young cricketing talent in Mumbai. 64 cricket clubs will participate in the tournament this year. Every match will be a 22-overs a side affair. Taking a leaf out of Sachin Tendulkar’s suggestions, all the matches will see 14 players a side playing. Though only 11 players can take the field at a time, 14 different players can be used for batting and bowling.”
Naik further added, “This tournament is like a base tournament for cricketers as it serves as a good selection ground for the Mumbai U-14 selectors. When a cricketer registers for this tournament, he automatically gets registered with the MCA. Since the selectors are present for the matches of this tournament, players doing well here have a higher chance of making it to the MCA teams.”
Vighnesh Arvind Kadam shared with Cricketgraph “This tournament is a very good platform for showcasing young and promising cricketers. We are really looking forward and excited for this tournament to become a grand success”
Bhaskar Thakur Memorial U-12 Cricket Tournament will start from early March and will see some exciting cricket being played by close to 1000 young Mumbai cricketers.
Cricket is a sport that brings you happiness. If you play the sport, you derive a lot of happiness and if you get a chance to support others to play the sport, then the level of happiness just goes up a notch. Pranay Khanna, who works as Vice President with BNY Mellon, is an avid cricketer, who plays corporate cricket tournaments. He represented his previous employer Morgan Stanley at the corporate level and at present, plays for different teams, including Bhakti Force, Lions of A-League and Eternity Cricket Club.
Apart from playing cricket, Pranay has gone one step ahead and donated cricket equipment to CricketGraph, which are then passed on to the under-privileged cricketers. Pranay told CricketGraph, “I have donated a cricket bat, helmet, New Balance right hand batting gloves and New Balance shoes. I believe that donating such cricket goods will allow the under-privileged cricketers to pursue their dream of playing the sport. Making donations gives you inner peace and a sense of satisfaction, since you have contributed in some way to another person’s life. Cricket has given us a lot, so it is important that we give back to the sport too.”
So, what does CricketGraph do with these donations? CricketGraph conducts auctions for these donated goods and the part proceeds from the auction money is used to provide brand new cricket gear to the underprivileged cricketers. CricketGraph takes this opportunity to extend a heartfelt gratitude to Pranay Khanna for donating cricket equipment and contributing to the noble cause of helping the under-privileged to pursue their dream of playing cricket.
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Ours Cricket Academy opting to bat first at Oval Maidan posted a total of 306/5 in 45 overs. Opener Tanish Meher gave a good start scoring 53 runs while it was Adit Devronkar at no.4 who top scored in the match with a brilliant knock of 107* runs in 88 balls. Adit remained unbeaten till the very end smashing 11 fours en-route his hundred and taking his team towards a respectable total.
Muslim Mandvi Cricket Club in reply were all out for 118 runs courtesy a match winning bowling performance by Aryan Mandavkar. Aryan took 5/18 in 9 overs with 2 maidens as he gave crucial breakthroughs not allowing the opposition batters to settle down. Ours Cricket Academy won the match by 188 runs while Aryan Mandavkar was declared ‘man of the match’
Played at MCA Kandivali in Mumbai, Mumbai Customs after being put to bat first were cleaned up for 177 runs courtesy Tushar Deshpande running through their batting line with a fiery bowling spell of 5/31 in 15.4 including 6 maidens. Tushar was well supported by Sylvester D Souza (3 wkts) and Minad Manjrekar (2 wkts) as the pace trio proved to be a deadly combination for Mumbai Customs.
BPCL in reply scored 386/7 courtesy their top order players coming good with the bat. Openers Akshat Jain (66 runs) and Bhavin Thakkar (53 runs) gave the perfect start to the innings while it was Pranav Kela at no.3 who top scored in the match with a brilliant knock of 110 runs facing 182 balls. Pranav’s century also included 11 boundaries as he stitched a crucial partnership with Harshal Jadhav who scored 58 runs at no.4
Mumbai Customs in the 2nd innings were all out for 167 runs and it was again fast bowlers making an impact. Speedster Sylvester returned with bowling figures of 5/25 in 13 overs including 5 maidens while Tushar Deshpande took 4/31 in 12 overs as both the pacers made life difficult for the Mumbai Custom Batters.
Result: Bharat Petroleum won the match by an innings & 43 runs
Played at MCA SRT Ground in Kandivali, Indian Navy Sports Sports Control Cell after being put to bat first were all out for 254 runs in 73.5 overs. The batters got off to starts but could not convert it into substantial scorers. Wicket-keeper Nakul Sharma at the middle order was the highest scorer with 57 runs off 66 balls. From the bowlers, Ravi Jangid and Atharva Ankolekar with 3wkts each were the pick of the lot.
Income Tax in reply were at one stage in deep trouble with their top and middle order collapsing however, it was Atharva Ankolekar at no.58 who completely changed the script of the game with a brilliant innings of 154* off mere 93 balls. It was an innings which came out of nowhere for the opposition team who were looking strong at one point. Atharva smashed 16 fours and 11 sixes at a strike rate of 165.59 taking his team to 353/10 in 62.1 overs.
Indian Navy in the 2nd innings collapsed for 144 runs courtesy 4wkt hauls each by Sachin Chaudhari and Dhanit Raut. Income Tax in reply chased down the trail of 47 runs in 9.3 overs winning the match by 7 wkts.
Played at MCA BKC Ground in Bandra, Al-Barkat Kurla School opting to bat first posted a massive total of 438/4 in 44 overs. Every year, Harris and Giles Shield surprises the cricketing community with a new talent and this year it’s Agneya Aadi who has grabbed everyone’s attention with an enterprising knock of 259* off 143 balls. Agneya smashed 30 fours and 5 sixes in his marathon knock while he was supported by the other players who batted around him with handy cameos.
Saraswati High School, Mahim in reply were cleaned up for 70 runs in 34.3 overs. Kavya with 3/5 in 4 overs was the pick of the lot from the bowlers as Al-Barkat won the match by a massive margin of 368 runs.
DDPL Strikers opting to bat first at Somaiya Cricket Ground in Sion, Mumbai posted a total of 174/9 in 20 overs. Even though, DDPL lost some early wickets, it was Aneesh Vijayakar at no.4 who rescued his team back into the game with a very crucial knock of 61 runs off 38 balls. Aneesh smashed 8 fours and a six with a strike rate of 160.53.
Hemant Tools Tornadoes in reply were all out for 152 runs in 19 overs with opener Preet Singh’s 50 off 41 balls being the highest score. From the bowlers, Kamal Punwani delivered a match winning bowling performance bagging 4 wkts for 25 runs in 4 overs as Hemant Tools Tornadoes won the match by 22 runs.
Played at Somaiya Cricket Ground in Sion, Spottlightt Social Scorchers opting to bat first posted a very healthy total on board scoring 184/6 in 20 overs. Niraj Bajaj at no.3 scored a quickfire 46 runs off 27 balls while it was Varun Saboo at no.4 who top scored in the match with an impactful innings of 55* off 33 balls. Varun’s innings included 7 fours and 2 sixes at a strike rate of 166.67. From the bowlers, Kaustav Ganguly with 2/34 in 4 overs was the pick of the lot.
Marshalls Royals in reply mustered a total of 167/7 in 20 overs falling short of 17 runs. Jitin Manji at no.3 was the top scorer with 47 runs while Varun Saboo and Captain Deepaq Modgil were the pick of the lot with 2 wickets each. Spottlightt Social Scorchers won the match by 17 runs while Varun Saboo was declared Man of the Match for his all round performance.
Mumbai: Captain Sujit Nayak led by example and scored a facing-saving 91 runs knock and medium-pacer Prathmesh Dake’s fiery bowling performance 4 for 12 runs (2.3 overs) helped Cricket Club of India (CCI) record a 71-run victory against MCA Colts in the final of the Bombay Gymkhana organized Nirlon-R.F.S. Talyarkhan Memorial Invitation Cricket Tournament 2021-2022, conducted under the auspices of MCA, at the Bombay Gymkhana ground on Saturday.
MCA for the second successive time suffered a defeat in the finals of this tournament. Meanwhile, CCI who were in the process of rebuilding their team has now won a title after a couple of years. They had lost to Payyade Sports Club in the Police Shield final in 2021.
MCA deciding to field first restricted CCI to 142 for 9 wickets from their stipulated 20 overs. Medium-pacer Ashray Sajani claimed the top six CCI batsmen, including taking four wickets from successive balls, to finish with 6 for 19 runs. CCI who were struggling at 36 for 6 in 7.4 overs was saved from embarrassment by their skipper and number 7 batsman Nayak who arrested the downfall and took the fight to the rivals. His blistering innings came from just 52 balls and was studded with six hits to the fence and four towering sixes to lift the innings.
Defending a modest total, the CCI bowlers rose to the challenge and medium-pacer Prathamesh Dake picked up 4 wickets for 12 runs from 2.3 overs and Vaibhav Mali claimed 2 for 22 runs to bundle out the MCA youngster for a paltry 71 runs to complete a stunning victory. Middle-order bat Suryansh Shedge was the only batsman to score 28 runs (20 balls, 2×4).
There was some consolation for MCA Colts as their skipper Khizar Dafedar (108 runs & 2 wickets in 3 matches), won the Player of the Tournament award. Sujit Nayak (112 runs in 3 matches) and Prathamesh Dake (10 wickets for 66 runs in 3 matches), both of CCI bagged the Best Batsman and Best Bowler of the tournament awards respectively.
Champions CCI received the glittering R.F.S. Talyarkhan Trophy and a cash award of Rs 50,000 from Chief Guest, Robin Uthappa, a former Indian cricketer, while MCA Colts were presented with the Runner-up Trophy and a cash prize of Rs 25,000.
Brief scores: CCI 142 for 9 wickets, 20 overs (Sujit Nayak 91 (52balls, 6×4,4×6; Ashray Sajnani 6 for 19) beat MCA Colts 71 all out, 15.3 overs (Suryansh Shedge 28 (20 balls, 2×4); Prathamesh Dake 4 for 12 (2.3 overs), Vaibhav Mali 2 for 22). Result: CCI won by 71 runs.
Individual awards – Best Batsman of the tournament: Sujit Nayak (112 runs in 3 matches).
Best Bowler of the tournament: Prathamesh Dake (10 wickets for 66 runs in 3 matches).
Player of the tournament: Khizar Dafedar (108 runs & 2 wickets in 3 matches).
Borivali Cricket Club opting to bat first at MCA BKC ground in Mumbai posted a total of 205/7 in 40 overs. After losing both the openers cheaply, no.3 batsman Sushant Kadam brought the momentum back scoring 48 runs off 45 balls. The savior for Borivali CC was again Rakesh Naik at the middle order as he came in at no.6 and scored a brilliant 72* off 74 balls smashing 2 fours and 6 sixes pushing his team towards a respectable total.
Bharat Cricket Club in reply gave a tough fight but eventually fell short by a small margin reaching 197/7 in 40 overs losing the match by 9 runs. Suraj Lalwani at no.7 gave his best with an unbeaten 47* but Borivali CC bowlers delivered well under pressure. Prathamesh Golatkar with 2/48 in 8 overs was the pick of the lot as Borivali CC emerged victorious in the finals winning the match by 9 runs.
The tournament witnessed some amazing performances right from Rakesh Naik scoring 267 runs in 6 innings alongwith 11 wkts, Neelaksh Tambe scoring 383 runs in 5 innings and Prathamesh Golatkar bagging 13 wkts in 7 matches.
Normally we say well thought and handpicked individuals is half work done for strong performance of team and Borivali CC is no exception. With all hard work and strong mettle Rakesh Naik has built yet another champion team to win the maiden Madhav Mantri one day league for E,F& G division. Rakesh Naik is thala of Borivali CC, on the winning trot from Kanga knock-out to Kanga G division championship and now one day league championship to his credentials as leader. He has shown all round performance right from captaincy to middle order batting to guiding team through his left arm spin. Absolute utility player with his hard work and team bonding, he has brought faith in players from different background to common objective of winning the championship. True leader is all we can say. All the very best for future endeavours.