Played at the Shivaji Park Ground, Ghatkoper Jolly Gymkhana batting first played really well declaring their innings at 188/3 in 53 overs. Opening the innings, promising batsman Omkar Rahate scored a solid 108* (152 balls) which set the tone for his team’s innings. Omkar batted with solid technique smashing 11 fours and 2 sixes & was looking all good to score even more than 108* had it not been a One Day match. “Omkar started off slowly but suddenly shifted gears which also included a 21 run over” from the inputs we got from opposition keeper Harmesh Somaiya.
Young Maharashtra on the other hand batted for 31 overs losing just 3 wkts before the end of the game’s play resulting in a draw. Opening the innings, left-handed wicket-keeper batsman Harmesh Somaiya brought up his 2nd half century in Kanga scoring 57 off 88 balls (4 fours, 1 six). Not many know that Harmesh is one of the hard working passionate cricketers who travels straight from Gujarat every weekend just to play kanga matches. 27yr old Harmesh works for Railways in Gujarat & also coaches young kids in his newly opened academy Harparam Sports which aims at promoting cricket to the most rural areas while also helping the talented young kids who want to play cricket. Harmesh has also played for Saurashtra Cricket Association & players like him are an inspiration who give their whole and soul to cricket.
Palghar Dahanu TSA after being made to bat first at National CC, Cross Maidan were all out for a total of 259/10 with their middle order batsman Harshit Janwadkar scoring a very important 95 to push his team towards a respectable total. From the bowlers, medium pacer Chinmay Patil bowled well taking 4/40 being the pick of the bowlers.
Chasing 260, National CC openers Shrideep and Jiniv gave a flying start with Shrideep playing the anchors role scoring 94 off 98 balls (10 fours, 3sixes) falling just 6 short of a deserving ton while Jiniv on the other hand was in the mood to finish of things quickly as he scored a quick 38 ball 71 (9 fours, 3 sixes). The start given by the openers was enough to win the match with ease as National CC chased down the score in 38.4 overs winning the match on 1st innings lead by 6 wkts.
Jolly Cricketers after making Islam Gymkhana bat on their own homeground were given a thrashing as they scored a healthy total of 214/4 dec in 40 overs. Despite the openers not giving a good start, it was their left-handed Aryan Bangar at no.3 who scored an impressive 84 off 110 balls (14 fours, 1 six). Aryan batted gracefully while also stitched a 145 run stand with the talented Hashir Dafedar who scored an equally impressive 78 (101 balls. 12 fours, 2 sixes). Both Hashir and Aryan resurrected the innings back taking Islam Gymkhana to a strong position.
In reply, Jolly Cricketers were 114 all out with Hitesh Kadam who has been amongst the wickets this season again being the pick of the bowlers taking 4/41 in 15.2 overs.
Islam Gymkhana won the match on 1st innings lead and it was certainly Aryan & Hashir grabbing all the attention.
In T20’s, big hundreds played at a strike rate of 160+ can always change the game. Tons like these can single handedly help win matches and Aniket few days ago just proved how quickly a quick hundred can change a game in the shortest format.
Mahindra Logistics after electing to bat first notched up a more than decent total of 194/2 in 20 overs. Despite their openers not able to give a flying start, Aniket who came at no.3 took care of his team’s innings batting till the end smashing a gorgeous 103* off 62 balls (12 fours, 3 sixes). It was a knock which was a perfect mixture of aggression as well as composure at the crease while he also stitched a 123* run stand in mere 70 balls with Vedant Ingle who also scored a brilliant 59* (32 balls). Vedant seems to have become a t20 middle order specialist with consistent batting in T20’s.
In reply, Bank of America were all out for 98 runs as Abhay bowled an impressive spell of 4/19 in 20 overs. It was a big win by 96 runs for Mahindra Logistics where in Aniket Juvekar was declared ‘man of the match’
MIG after electing to bat first at Cross Maidan were off to a flying start with Swapnil Pradhan (41) and Kevin laying the foundation. Left-handed Kevin went on to score a brilliant 125 off 138 balls (17fours) which was a perfect mixture of grace, calmness and aggression. Kevin played a captain’s knock hanging in around and solidifying the innings while Swapnil Salvi (60) & the experienced Nikhil Patil sr. (66) scored crucial fifties at the middle order pushing MIG to a very healthy total of 373/7 in 70 overs.
United Crickets were in reply all out for 152 runs with medium pacer Nikhil Date being the pick of the bowlers taking 4/52. MIG team once again fired well together as they clinch a massive win by 221 runs.
Yogi CC batting first at Venus Ground in Malad were at one point in deep trouble with their score of 65/5 on the board. All the top order batsman were removed but It was their solid middle order batsman Niranjan Paradkar bringing his team back into the game with a brilliant 102* off 84 balls. It was a knock which pushed Yogi CC from 65/5 to 239/9 dec in 47.5 overs. All eyes were on Niranjan’s beautiful knock which was laced with 10 fours and 7 sixes much to the entertainment of the spectators and his team mates.
Evergreen SC were all out on 166 in reply and Yogi CC won the match on 1st innings lead, thanks to Niranjan’s match saving hundred.
It was one of the best all-round performances this season while Rahul also became only the 4th player this season across all divisions to score a fifty as well as bag a 5wkt haul in the same match.
Maharashtra Young Cricketers batting first at Azad Maidan declared their innings at 196/7 with all-rounder Rahul Jogadia who came at no.7 top scoring with a crucial 55* off mere 35 balls (8 fours, 2 sixes). It was his late blitz down the order which pushed his team towards a good total. From Veer Sivagami was the pick of the bowlers taking 5/59 in 12.1 overs.
In reply, Canara Vijay were bundled out for just 123 runs as Rahul impressed one and all with the ball too. Rahul came up with envious bowling figures of 7/46 in 16.3 overs taking wickets at regular intervals. It was a match winning performance by Rahul both with the bat as well as with the ball helping Maharashtra Y.C win the match on 1st innings lead.
Young wicket-keeper batsmen are always exciting to watch and Mehboob Shaikh is one of those young promising wicket keeper batsmen who is making a mark for himself in Mumbai Cricket.
Khar Gymkhana after being made to bat first were hardly affected as they notched up a healthy total declaring their innings at 258/4 (D) in 37 overs. Gaurav Suryavanshi at no.3 scored a gritty 69 while Mehboob who came at no.4 went on to score a swashbuckling ton hitting 105* off mere 68 balls. Mehboob took on the bowlers covering almost every corner of the ground as he smashed 15 fours and 3 sixes in what was a truly entertaining knock.
John Bright in return were all out for 85 runs as left-arm spinner Ajay Mishra bowled a match winning spell of 5/15 in 6.5 overs. It was Mehboob’s brilliant batting and Ajay’s fifer which helped Khar Gymkhana win the match on 1st innings lead.
On a wicket which was termed as a batting paradise by Young Comrade Skipper Shamit Shetty, the batsman did enjoyed batting at the Mumbai Police Gymkhana Ground.
Young Comrade CC batting first relished the wickets with openers giving a solid start while left handed Swapnil Bivalkar going on to score a solid 125 (175 balls) opening the innings. Swapnil who is an aggressive batsman showed that he has the temperament to play solid cricket too while he got excellent support from no.3 bat Anish Chaudhary with whom he stitched a 140 run stand for the 2nd wkt. Anish who came at no.3 was equally impressive smashing a quick 123 (135 balls) to keep the scoreboard ticking as Young Comrade reached a decent total of 359/7 in 70 overs.
Mumbai Police Gymkhana who had a patchy start with 4 wkts down for 93 runs got back into the game with their middle order specialists Shrikant Limbole & Swapnil Kulaye hitting tons at no.5 & 6 & stitching a 141 run stand for the 5th wicket. At one point both Shrikant (109 off 109b) & Swapnil (100 off 114b) were looking dangerous to finish the match before Comrade Skipper Shamit & Mayuresh gave breakthroughs by taking shrikant & Swapnil’s wickets. Shamit Shetty was the pick of the bowlers in a very close match taking a crucial 5/56 in 17 overs as Mumbai Police were all out for 309 runs.
It was a good win by 53 runs for Young Comrade while the whole team led by Shamit and his boys fired well.
Shamit Shetty speaking exclusively with Cricketrgaph also added- “One of our player Mohmmed Sayyed last month lost his life in a bike accident, He played his last Kanga league match for our club & wanted to dedicate this victory and my performance to him”
Into the opening day of the Purshottam Shield Tournament, it was fast bowler Mohit Avasthi who called for everyone’s attention with his accurate line and length coupled with good pace and bowling action.
Regal CC who elected to bat first at PJ Hindu Gymkhana suffered a batting collapse getting all out for just 97 runs in 33.3 overs. Right arm fast bowler Mohit Avasthi’s sensational spell did the job for PJ Hindu Gymkhana as he came up with impressive bowling figures of 6/40 in 13.3 overs. Mohit did not allow the batsman to settle giving timely breakthroughs.
In reply, it was a cakewalk for the PJ Hindu Gymkhana batsman as they chased down the score with ease. Ankit Revandkar opening the innings stayed unbeaten on 49* as PJ won the match by 9 wkts.