There is something about All-Rounders which always makes them an exciting prospect in cricket, the day when they can’t change the game with the ball, they do it with the bat and some days it’s the other way round.
Just fresh from 6wkts in his last match, this time KRP XI batting first at Cross Maidan declared their innings on 188/5. Left-handed Rakesh Naik coming at no.5 scored the fastest Kanga Hundred for 2018 smashing it in mere 57 balls. Scoring a normal hundred itself in Kanga is a big thing and when you score in such fashion, it just shows the amount of talent Rakesh possesses. Rakesh smashed 13 fours and 7 sixes enthralling one and all in his unbeaten 100*.
What’s more, defending 188, KRP XI reduced Diamond Star CC to just 48runs all out as off-spinner Amit Wadkar came up with an unplayable and a magical spell taking 5 wkts for mere 4 runs in 6overs helping KRP XI win the match on 1st innings lead.
Mumbai cricket has so much of untapped talent which most of the Mumbaites are not even aware about. There are players giving their best and putting up excellent performances and one of them is Rohit Talreja who has been in a great form with the ball.
In his previous match of Kanga Rohit had bagged a brilliant fifer and now again vs DPZ Sports Club. His team batting first were all out for 110runs with Bhushan Talwadekar taking 5/39 being the pick of the bowlers.
Defending a lot total of 110, Superstar SC gave a great fight as Rohit came up with a sensational spell of fast bowling coming up with envious and match winning bowling figures of 6/13 in 11.2overs. Rohit was simply spot on with the ball as he kept on giving breakthroughs to his team helping Superstar SC win the match on 1st innings lead.
Only the third time has this feat of 5wkts and a half century in the same match has been achieved this year in Kanga out of hundreds of matches being played as Ravi Shinde joins the elite list of all-rounders in Mumbai Cricket.
Jolly Cricketers batting first scored 216/10 in 55overs with Ravi Shinde who came at no.3 scoring a fluent 60 off 83balls laced with 6fours and 2sixes. Udayan Shukla at the lower order also played a crucial hand smashing 58. From Shivaji Park Youngsters, Atharva Dakway and Nitin Surve bagged 4wkts each.
In reply, Shivaji Park team were 122/7 before the end of the game’s play with Ravi Shinde bagging 5 out of those 7wkts with his medium pace bowling conceding 44runs in 11overs. It was a day owned by Ravi while the match ended in a draw.
Restricting Maskati CC to 161runs at Khar Gymkhana in 38.4overs, now the pressure was to chase it properly. However, Priyank Shetty opening the innings played a classy knock of 89* off 105balls (8fours, 1six) setting the tone for a perfect chase. Mehbook Shaikh who is a young wicket keeper batsman also looked very promising missing out on a deserving ton. Mehboob scored 90*off mere 68balls (9fours, 3sixes) in what was a brilliant display of dominance.
Mehbook showed how handy a batsman he can be while Priyank’s anchoring knock helped Khar Gymkhana win the match on 1st innings lead.
Catholic Gymkhana batting first were bundled out for 59runs in their 1st innings with only two batsmen managing to score in two digits. The bowler who won the hearts and inflicted maximum damage was Mazgaon CC’s off spinner Mandar Garude coming up with envious bowling figures of 8/24 in 12overs. Mandar was simply spot on with the ball bowling in the right areas and troubling the batsman to the hilt.
Mazgaon CC in reply declared their innings on 93/2 winning the match on 1st innings lead. Catholic Gymkhana were 50/8 in their 2nd innings where Mandar took another 4/24 taking his tally of wickets to 12/48 in the match. Hrushikesh Pawar was also impressive bagging 4/17 in 11overs.
Played at the SRT Ground in Kandivali, Young Parsee CC batting first were at one point struggling with 4/54 before right handed Arvind Tandel who came at no.6 smashed a match winning 90* off 100balls. It was Arvind’s timely 90* which had 4fours and 5sixes which took Young Parsee cc to 215runs which is a very good total to defend.
Defending 216, Kerala Windsor were bundled out for mere 37runs as Young Parsee’s mini Dynamo Farhan Shaikh took his 2nd back to back fifer. Left-arm spinner Farhan took 5wkts while just giving away 9runs in 9.2overs with 5maidens as Young Parsee CC won the match on 1st innings lead.
While Chinmay performed really well in the Quadrangular Tournament scoring a 4th innings ton, Srujan continued his form from Kanga where he was the top scorer for B Division.
MCA Colts batting first notched up 356/8 in 70overs with opener Srujan Athawale scoring a solid looking 107 off 155balls. Srujan looked elegant and confident smashing 12fours en-route his ton while Chinmay at no.4 scored 86 off 106balls taking the positive momentum ahead. Sairaj Sangle at no.6 scored a quickfire 62 as MCA Colts reached a strong position in the match.
In reply, CCI were all out for 298runs with Ajikya Patil fighting it out scoring 122 off 154balls at no.3. It was a solid knock by Ajinkya but CCI lost the match by 58runs.
Police Shield Tournament has always been a great platform for young talented cricketers and one such match was between Shivaji Park Gymkhana and Bombay Gymkhana at Shivaji Park Dadar.
Shivaji Park Gymkhana batting first scored a healthy total of 353/6 in 70overs with their solid opener Gandhar Bhatawadekar missing out a well deserved ton by 5runs scoring 95 off 130balls. Left-handed Vaidik Murkar who opened with Gandhar scored a well crafted 70 continuing his from from Kanga. Akash Anand on the other hand scored a very well stitched 80* off 87balls while also made a partnership with Siddesh Kinalekar who smashed 50 at no.5.
Bombay Gymkhana were all out for 224runs losing the chase but it was Bhupen Lalwani winning the hearts scoring a well fought 100* off 178balls standing unbeaten till the end at a time when wickets kept on losing from the other end.
Shivaji Park Gymkhana won the match by 129runs while the match witnessed some brilliant performances.
Just fresh from a 5wkt haul a few days ago in his last match of Kanga, left arm spinner Mihir Shah is impressing one and all with his consistent wicket taking ability. In the match vs Regent CC, Regent Team after being made to bat first were all out for 120runs and the bowler who played a big role again was Mihir Shah. Mihir came up with stunning bowling figures of 6/28 in 20overs with 6maidens at an impressive economy of just 1.40runs per over.
Even though his team SKP Athletics lost getting all out on 74, he chipped in with the bat too scoring 31 out of his team’s 74runs.
Payyade SC took on PJ Hindu Gymkhana on their home ground restricting them to 277/9 in 70overs with Ankit Revadkar (59), Sachin Wagh (53) and Neelkanth Parab (51) chipping in with half centuries. Chasing 280 and that too in opponents home ground is difficult but right-handed Hardik Tamore at no.3 scored a splendid 121 off 130balls.
Hardik also got brilliant support from the experienced Parag Khanapurkar who scored unbeaten 81* off 99balls and also stitched a match winning stand of 161runs with Hardik. Both the batsman together smashed 15fours and 10sixes covering every corner of the ground as Payyade SC won the match by 5wkts and 12overs to spare in what turned out to be a impressive win.