In an exciting clash between Thane Center and Andheri Center at the U16 Kalpesh Koli tournament, the match concluded in a draw with Thane Center claiming the first innings lead. Both teams displayed their skills and fought hard, making it a closely contested affair.
Andheri Center won the toss and elected to bat first, hoping to put up a challenging total on the board. However, they faced a disciplined bowling performance from Thane Center’s bowlers. Akshat Jain top-scored for Andheri Center with a valiant knock of 32 runs. Nevertheless, Joshva Kothari of Thane Center wreaked havoc with his exceptional bowling, claiming an impressive six-wicket haul for 30 runs. Andheri Center was bowled out for 103 runs in 29 overs.
In response, Thane Center commenced their first innings with determination to secure a crucial lead. Smin Keni, Amanat Hussain, and Abhinav Sharma contributed with scores of 42, 34, and 32 respectively. Vedant Bane provided breakthroughs for Andheri Center, taking three wickets for 30 runs. Thane Center managed to reach a total of 148 runs in 50.2 overs.
With a lead of 45 runs, Thane Center stepped onto the field for their second innings. Yash Ganiga played a magnificent unbeaten innings, scoring an impressive 105 runs to propel Thane Center’s innings forward. Thane Center declared their second innings at 177/6 in 57.5 overs, setting a target of 223 runs for Andheri Center to win the match.
In their pursuit of the target, Andheri Center faced a challenging task against Thane Center’s bowling attack. They managed to score 49 runs for the loss of three wickets in 11 overs before the match concluded, resulting in a draw.
The match concluded with Thane Center taking the first innings lead. Yash Ganiga’s exceptional century and Joshva Kothari’s outstanding bowling performance were the highlights of the match. The U16 Kalpesh Koli tournament witnessed a closely fought contest, showcasing the talent and determination of young cricketers.
The U16 Kalpesh Koli tournament witnessed a thrilling encounter between Diva Center and Mulund Center, which ended in a draw with Mulund Center taking the first innings lead. Both teams showcased their cricketing skills and fought hard, creating an exciting contest for the spectators.
Diva Center won the toss and elected to bat first, aiming to set a challenging total for Mulund Center. However, they faced early setbacks as Mulund Center’s bowlers came out with a disciplined performance. Omkar K. displayed resistance and played a determined innings of 52 runs. Nevertheless, Diva Center was bowled out for 123 runs in 57.2 overs. Amartya Raje and Om Dawat were the standout bowlers for Mulund Center, claiming three wickets each and restricting Diva Center’s scoring opportunities.
In response, Mulund Center began their first innings with a cautious approach. Aarya Karle was the top scorer for Mulund Center, providing stability with a well-crafted innings of 59 runs. Diva Center fought back with the ball as Arun Kanojia and Himanshu Patil impressed with their bowling, taking four and three wickets respectively. Mulund Center was eventually bowled out for 221 runs in 70.3 overs, gaining a significant lead over Diva Center.
In their second innings, Diva Center aimed to put up a better batting display to save the match. However, they faced a resilient Mulund Center bowling attack that restricted their scoring opportunities. Ayush Jadhav top-scored for Diva Center with a composed innings of 34 runs. Diva Center managed to score 98 runs for the loss of three wickets in 31 overs before the match concluded.
The match ended in a draw, with Mulund Center taking the first innings lead. Aarya Karle’s impressive innings and the bowling performances of Amartya Raje and Om Dawat were the highlights of the match. The U16 Kalpesh Koli tournament witnessed an intense battle between the two teams, showcasing the talent and determination of young cricketers. Both teams fought hard, making it an exciting contest for the spectators.
In an exciting contest between Dombivali Center and Kharghar Center at the U16 Kalpesh Koli tournament, the match concluded in a draw with Dombivali Center taking the first innings lead. Both teams displayed their skills and fought hard throughout the game, making it a closely contested affair.
Kharghar Center won the toss and elected to bat first, hoping to set a formidable total for their opponents. The opening batsmen, Zishaan Choudhary and Suryansh Kumar, provided a solid start, contributing 52 and 49 runs respectively. Prabhajan Patade led the bowling attack for Dombivali Center, picking up three crucial wickets for 63 runs. Despite losing wickets at regular intervals, Kharghar Center declared their innings at 232/8 in 87.1 overs.
In response, Dombivali Center showcased their batting prowess and determination in their first innings. Yuvraj Mali was the standout performer with an impressive knock of 95 runs, falling just short of a century. Rohan Karindikar supported Mali with a well-played half-century, scoring 50 runs. Anirudha Nair also made a valuable contribution of 34 runs. Dhairyasheel Deshmukh posed a challenge for the Dombivali Center batsmen, taking four wickets for 57 runs. Dombivali Center declared their innings at 234/8 in 61.1 overs, securing a slim two-run lead over Kharghar Center.
In the second innings, Kharghar Center faced a daunting task of chasing down the target set by Dombivali Center. However, they adopted a cautious approach to ensure the match ended in a draw. In the limited overs available, Kharghar Center managed to score 34 runs for the loss of two wickets in 12 overs.
The match concluded in a draw, with Dombivali Center taking the first innings lead. Yuvraj Mali’s impressive innings and Prabhajan Patade’s bowling efforts were the highlights of the match. The U16 Kalpesh Koli tournament witnessed an intense battle, highlighting the talent and determination of the young cricketers. Both teams displayed exceptional skills, making it an entertaining spectacle for the spectators.
In an exhilarating clash between Ghansoli Center and Virar Center at the U16 Kalpesh Koli tournament, the match concluded in a draw with Virar Center claiming the first-innings lead. Both teams exhibited commendable cricketing prowess, creating a thrilling spectacle for the spectators.
Virar Center won the toss and elected to bat first, aiming to establish a strong foundation for their innings. Ghansoli Center’s bowlers began the match on a high note, consistently applying pressure on the opposition. Indrajeet Bhalekar was the standout bowler for Ghansoli Center, displaying exceptional skills and picking up seven wickets for 57 runs. Dev Damania, Kush Tandel, and Vedant Gurav contributed crucial runs to Virar Center’s total, with scores of 44, 42, and 34 respectively. Eventually, Virar Center was bowled out for 207 runs in 56.3 overs.
In response, Ghansoli Center commenced their first innings with determination and a fighting spirit. Chinmay Chaudhary emerged as the star performer for Ghansoli Center, displaying superb batting skills and reaching a well-deserved half-century with 50 runs to his name. However, Vedant Gurav showcased his bowling prowess, claiming four wickets for 34 runs and playing a crucial role in restricting Ghansoli Center to a total of 180 runs in 56 overs.
With a lead of 27 runs, Virar Center stepped onto the field for their second innings. Ghansoli Center’s bowlers were determined to make a comeback, and Vedant Gurav once again proved to be a thorn in their side. Gurav’s remarkable bowling performance continued as he claimed four wickets for 17 runs, causing significant trouble for Ghansoli Center. Eventually, Ghansoli Center was bowled out for 128 runs in 32.2 overs.
Set a target of 102 runs to win in the second innings, Virar Center displayed a cautious approach. With limited overs remaining in the match, they focused on securing a draw rather than chasing down the target aggressively. Virar Center managed to score 59 runs for the loss of two wickets in just 6 overs, ensuring that the match ended in a draw.
The match concluded with Virar Center claiming the first-innings lead, resulting in a draw. Indrajeet Bhalekar’s exceptional bowling performance for Ghansoli Center and Vedant Gurav’s all-round contribution for Virar Center were the standout performances of the match. The U16 Kalpesh Koli tournament witnessed an enthralling encounter, highlighting the immense talent and competitiveness of young cricketers.
In an enthralling encounter between Palghar Center and Matunga Center at the U16 Kalpesh Koli tournament, the match ended in a draw with Matunga Center claiming the first-innings lead. Both teams displayed exceptional cricketing skills and fought tooth and nail throughout the game.
Palghar Center won the toss and elected to bat first, looking to set a strong foundation for their innings. However, their batsmen struggled to find their footing against the formidable bowling attack of Matunga Center. Palghar Center lost wickets at regular intervals and were bundled out for a mere 85 runs in 32.4 overs. Arnav Gupta was the chief destroyer for Matunga Center, wreaking havoc with his impressive figures of 6/20.
In response, Matunga Center came out with a dominant batting performance in their first innings. Opener Abhinab Saha led the charge with a brilliant century, scoring 117 runs. He received valuable support from Om Kamble (62) and Ashmith Kashyap (52*), who both registered half-centuries. Matunga Center declared their innings at 347/8 in 67.3 overs, gaining a substantial lead over Palghar Center. Anshul Tare was the pick of the bowlers for Palghar Center, claiming 5 wickets for 85 runs.
With a deficit of 262 runs, Palghar Center faced an uphill task in their second innings. However, they showcased great resilience and determination in their pursuit of a draw. Daivik Save was the standout performer with the bat, playing a magnificent knock of 76 runs. He received support from Pratham Meher, who contributed a valuable 33 runs. Arnav Gupta continued to trouble the Palghar Center batsmen, taking 4 wickets for 33 runs. Despite their efforts, Palghar Center managed to reach a total of 193/8 in 70.5 overs before the match concluded.
The match ended in a draw, with Matunga Center claiming the first-innings lead. It was a closely fought battle, with both teams showcasing their skills and determination on the field. Abhinab Saha’s century and Arnav Gupta’s brilliant bowling performance were the highlights of the match. The U16 Kalpesh Koli tournament witnessed an exciting contest, leaving the spectators eagerly awaiting the next clash between these talented teams.
Mumbai, May 21: Young talented all-rounder Musheer Khan played a significant role with bat and ball, which ensured Mumbai Police City Riders emerge champions by comfortably defeating Thane Marathas by 20 runs in the final of the Mumbai Cricket Club (MCC) and Jwala Sports Foundation (JSF) organized MitsuiShoji T20 Cricket League (Season 9), played under floodlights at the Mumbai Police Gymkhana ground, Marine Drive on Saturday.
Chief Guest, Chaminda Vaas, Sri Lanka’s legendary fast bowlers awarded the Champions and Runners-up Trophies and the cash awards to the two teams. Mumbai Police received a cheque of Rs 70,000 and Thane Marathas had to rest content with a sum of Rs 30,000.
Sent in to bat first, Mumbai Police riding on Musheer’s blistering innings piled up a massive total of 167 for 8 wickets in 20 overs. The 18-year-old opening batsman Musheer played some exquisite strokes on both sides of the wicket and went on to score a quick 32-ball 61 runs which was studded with six boundaries and five well-struck hits over the fence. Musheer along with Hardik Tamore 29 runs put on 77 runs for 1st wicket in 7.5 overs which laid the foundation for Mumbai Police to build a substantial total. Later, Shrikant Limbole added 28 runs to lift the Mumbai Police innings.
Later, the left-arm spinner Musheer claimed 3 quick wickets for 17 runs to dismiss Thane Marathas for 147 in 19 overs. Left-arm spinner Sagar Mishra 2 for 14 and medium pacer Deepak Shetty 2 for 26 played perfect supporting roles.
Middle-order bat Harshal Jadhav 45 runs (37-balls, 3×4,2×6) and Sagar Jadhav 29 (20-balls, 2×4,2×6) tried to keep Marathas in the fight, but the other batsmen failed to stay long at the crease and they failed to reach the winning target.
For his remarkable performances Musheer was the obvious choice for the Man of the Match award.
The former Sri Lankan fast bowler Chaminda was impressed with the concept of this tournament and the efforts of Jwala Singh and the Mumbai Cricket Club and the Jwala Sports Foundation. “Conducting such tournaments is good for the sport. It certainly benefits the youngsters, helps in the promotion of the game and develops players for the future,” Vaas said during the prize distribution function.
“I have been here in Mumbai for the past 5 days and spent plenty of time with youngsters during the JSF High Performance training camp. I noticed that there are so many talented young cricketers, who are being trained by highly qualified coaches. Jwala (Singh) is a reputed and dedicated coach who is extremely passionate about cricket and keen to encourage youngsters. He has already produced several top class cricketers like Yashasvi Jaiswal and Prithvi shaw and I am confident that many more players from his academies will make it big,” the left-handed speedster pointed out.\
Brief scores: Mumbai Police City Riders 167 for 8, 20 overs (Musheer Khan 61 (32-balls, 6×4,5×6), Hardik Tamore 29 (25-balls, 3×4,1×6), Shrikant Limbole 28 (19-balls, 5×4) beat Thane Marathas 147 all out, 19 overs (Harshal Jadhav 45 (37-balls, 3×4,2×6), Sagar Jadhav 29 (20-balls, 2×4,2×6); Musheer Khan 3 for 17, Sagar Mishra 2 for 14, Deepak Shetty 2 for 26). Result: Mumbai Police City Riders won by 20 runs.
Mumbai, May 20: Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar on Friday said Anshuman Gaekwad has given Indian cricket everything as a player, as a coach, as an administrator and as a selector. Gavaskar also praised his former teammate for showing guts against the menacing West Indian fast bowlers early on in his career.
Gavaskar who released Gaekwad’s biography ‘Guts Amidst Bloodbath’ at the C.K. Nayudu Hall at CCI in Mumbai on Friday evening, recalled his days opening for India alongside the former and the blow he took on his head during the Jamaica Test in 1976. The occasion was graced by six former Indian cricket captains.
India’s pride Sachin Tendulkar, Gundapa Vishwanath, Sunil Gavaskar, Dilip Vengsarkar, Ravi Shastri and Kapil Dev all related choice anecdotes voicing their unstinted praise for Gaekwad. Roger Binny, the present BCCI chief, Yajuvindra Singh, Karsan Ghavri, Zaheer Khan, Abey Kuruvilla, Nayan Mongia to name a few also showed up. Publisher and Editor Sachin Bajaj, founder of Global Cricket School and Aditya Bhushan who penned the book, also graced the dais.
Gavaskar recalled how he accompanied Gaekwad to the hospital in an ambulance. “We had to take him to a hospital. The fact that Anshu showed the guts that he did, every time there was a series against the West Indies, Anshu was always recalled to the team. If it was West Indies, it was Anshu, but if it was some other series, it was some other partner… because of his guts.
“And so those are the guts we have seen on the field, guts to speak his mind off the field as well, which is why he is what he is – a very well respected figure in Indian cricket,” he said.
Meanwhile, Sachin Tendulkar termed playing under former India coach Anshuman Gaekwad as some of the “better years” of his cricketing career and that he was someone who could always be trusted.
Gaekwad was India coach for about two years — 1997 to 1999 — and some of Tendulkar’s best innings, including the two ODI centuries against Australia in Sharjah fondly remembered as the ‘Desert Storm’, came during his tenure.
“I was really fortunate to spend time with him (Gaekwad) when he was our coach. Possibly, I had better cricketing years of my life when he was our coach. We would have discussions on my batting and the approach I should have,” Tendulkar said
Another couple of words instantly come to mind, when envisioning his famous repartee against the West Indies’ pace battery swarming against him and the Indians. True Grit, that well-known moniker of a famous John Wayne movie, could easily be used when describing Gaekwad standing up to the might of the Windies Pacemen.
His magnificent innings of 82, before retiring hurt, is a testament to his bravery and courage, even as half of the Indian batsmen had to retire hurt in what was the Windies repartee to the infamous Bodyline series.
Of the total 40 Tests that Anshuman played, 22 were against Windies on immensely lively ticking pitches. In tandem with Sunil Gavaskar, he provided more than stability at the top of the order. His partnerships with Sunny yielded 1722 runs in 49 innings which makes them the fourth all-time best opening pair for India in terms of runs scored.
On a day when praise came in from all quarters, Anshu spoke about his devotion for the game for 55 years. Besides being a national selector, he has also coached the Gujarat team and was a former secretary of the Baroda Cricket Association. He is currently the President of the Indian Cricketers Association (ICA).
Mumbai, May 19: Victory Cricket Club put up a determined fighting performance and managed to get the better of a spirited Fort Youngsters CC by a tight 3 wickets margin in the final of the 1st MCA Women’s Cricket League played under floodlights at the MCA ground, BKC late Thursday evening.
After winning the toss and deciding to field, Victory CC managed to contain the Fort Youngsters batters who could only post a low total of 127 all out in 19.4 overs. Fort Youngsters’ batswomen Janhvi Kate and Zeal D’Mello scored 43 and 36 runs respectively to prop and bring some kind of respectability to the innings. Sarika Koli who finished with 3 wickets for 11 runs was mainly responsible for reducing the opposition batting.
Chasing a modest target, Victory CC batters also struggled a bit. But a steady and composed batting display by Saima Thakor who scored an unbeaten 38 runs and Alina Mulla who contributed 33 ensured Victory CC surpassed the winning target reaching 128 for 7 wickets in 19.2 overs and to become first Champions of the MCA Women Cricket League.
The Champions and Runners-up will receive their trophies and other awards during the MCA Prize Distribution function which is scheduled to be held next month after the completion of all the MCA tournaments. The winners of the individual awards would also be announced and presented at the PD function.
Brief scores (finals): Fort Youngsters 127 all out, 19.4 overs (Janhvi Kate 43, Zeal D’Mello 36; Sarika Koli 3 for 11) lost to Victory Cricket Club 128 for 7 wickets, 19.2 overs (Saima Thakor 38*, Alina Mulla 33). Result: Victory Cricket Club won by 3 wickets.
Mumbai, May 20: A splendid performance from all-rounder Aarush Patankar helped Victory Cricket Club emerge champions as they handed Ours Cricket Club a 16-run defeat in the final of the 2nd MCA Under-19 Cricket Tournament organized by Bhama CC in association with Mumbai Cricket Club and played at the Mumbai Police Gymkhana ground, Marine Drive on Friday evening.
Choosing to bat after winning the toss, despite losing the wicket of opener Prateek Yadav for just 5 runs and with only 8 runs on the board, gallantly fought back and amassed a massive total of 237 for 6 wickets from their stipulated 35 overs. Opener Patankar smashed a 73-ball 73 runs with five boundaries and two sixes, while teammates Aditya Pabalkar 51 runs (45-balls, 5×4,1×6) and Manan Bhatt 46 runs (36-balls, 8×4) made substantial contributions to swell the total. Smith Pardeshi 2 for 29 and Shreyas Gurav 2 for 46 were Ours CC’s best bowlers.
Later, Ours Cricket Club batters put up a strong fight to try to overhaul the opponents total, but they fell short as they were bowled out for 221 runs in 32.4 overs. Smith Pardeshi 49 runs (30-balls, 5×4,2×6), Kartik Savale 35 runs (28-balls, 5×4) and Sarvesh Yadav 34 runs (52-balls, 3×4) managed to get some decent knocks but they were unable to help Ours CC cross the winning line. Aarush Patankar who batted confidently during his innings also came good with the ball and claimed 4 wicket for 34 runs which tilted the match in Victory CC’s favour.
Sri Lanka bowling legend Chaminda Vaas was the Chief Guest at the prize distribution function and presented the trophies and awards to the teams and the players.
The Best Batsman award was won by Ayush Vartak (National CC) who scored 421 runs, while Best Bowler award was claimed by Rohit Yadav (Parkophene Cricketers) who picked up 15 wickets. Arjun Dani (MIG Cricket Club) who scored 269 runs and took 7 wickets was declared as the winner for the Emerging Player of the Tournament award. Victory CC’s Aarush Patankar for his all-round showing was undoubtedly named Player of the Final.
Brief scores: Victory CC 237 for 6 wickets, 35 overs (Aarush Patankar 73 (73-balls, 5×4,2×6), Aditya Pabalkar 51 (45-balls, 5×4,1×6), Manan Bhatt 46 (36-balls, 8×4); Smith Pardeshi 2 for 29, Shreyas Gurav 2 for 46) beat Ours Cricket Club 221 all out, 32.4 overs (Smith Pardeshi 49 (30-balls, 5×4,2×6), Kartik Savale 35 (28-balls, 5×4), Sarvesh Yadav 34 (52-balls, 3×4), Shreyas Gurav 23; Aarush Patankar 4 for 34). Result: Victor Cricket Club won by 16 runs.
Individual awards – Best Batsman: Ayush Vartak (National CC) 421 runs.
Best Bowler: Rohit Yadav (Parkophene Cricketers) 15 wickets.
Emerging Player: Arjun Dani (MIG Cricket Club) 269 runs and 7 wickets.
Man of the Final: Aarush Patankar 73 runs.
Mumbai, May 19: On a night, where six former Indian cricket captains graced the occasion, ‘Guts Amidst Bloodbath‘, a semi autobiographical essay by former Indian Test cricketer, Anshuman Gaekwad was released at the C K Nayudu Hall at CCI, with much plaudits and fanfare in a short and sweet engagement.
India’s pride Sachin Tendulkar, Gundapa Vishwanath, Sunil Gavaskar, Dilip Vengsarkar, Ravi Shastri and Kapil Dev all related choice anecdotes voicing their unstinted praise for Anshu. Roger Binny the present BCCI chief, Yajuvindra Singh, Karsan Ghavri, Zaheer Khan, Abet Kuruvilla, Nayan Mongia to name a few also showed up. Publisher and Editor Sachin Bajaj, founder of Global Cricket School and Aditya Bhushan who penned the book, also graced the dais.
Sunny commended Anshu for his bravery and spoke about accompanying him to hospital after he was hit by a bouncer during the West Indies tour in 1976. Sachin Tendulkar testified to Anshu’s taste for fiery food, which is on par with his ability to deal with the fiery pace of the Windies. Gutsy to say the least.
Another couple of words instantly come to mind, when envisioning his famous repartee against the West Indies’ pace battery swarming against him and the Indians. True Grit, that well-known moniker of a famous John Wayne movie, could easily be used when describing Gaekwad standing up to the might of the Windies Pacemen.
His magnificent innings of 82, before retiring hurt, is a testament to his bravery and courage, even as half of the Indian batsmen had to retire hurt in what was the Windies repartee to the infamous Bodyline series.
Of the total 40 Tests that Anshuman played, 22 were against Windies on immensely lively ticking pitches. In tandem with Sunil Gavaskar, he provided more than stability at the top of the order. His partnerships with Sunny yielded 1722 runs in 49 innings which makes them the fourth all-time best opening pair for India in terms of runs scored.
But wait, he started his Ranji career as a right-arm bowler and then went on to become a respected batsman in Tests.
His Test career began in 1974 and he has proved to be a long-time associate of the game, having coached the Indian Test team to a sparkling run of success from 1977 to 1979. These included Indian victories in seven One Day tournaments, a Test series victory against a strong Australian side at home in 1998 and a draw against arch-rivals Pakistan in the 1999 Test series. As a coach, he was known for his discipline, honesty and integrity.
On a day when praise came in from all quarters, Anshu spoke about his devotion for the game for 55 years. Besides being a national selector, he has also coached the Gujarat team and was a former secretary of the Baroda Cricket Association. He is currently the President of the Indian Cricketers Association (ICA).
For all fanatic cricket lovers, both in the country and abroad the book is a must read which speaks volumes of Anshu’s passion and love for the game.