Played between Nirmala College and Swami Muktanand team, Nirmala College winning the toss opted to bat first notching up a healthy 158 for no loss in 15overs. Opening the innings, Sai Naidu scored a swashbuckling 107 off mere 62balls laced with 12boundaries and a six. Sai took on the bowlers with complete dominance smashing the bowlers all over the ground at a healthy strike rate of 175.00+
His opening partner Pranav on the other hand gave him good support scoring run a ball 27*. Swami Muktanand College while chasing were all out for a very low total of 18runs as their batting collapsed under pressure. Saiyam Jain (4wkts) and Nilesh Yadav (3wkts) were the pick of the bowlers as they ensured Nirmala College win in style.
Taking a five wicket haul and a half century in a match is very difficult as it requires high level of fitness, dedication and practice to achieve that feat. Very few times a player has taken 5wkts and scored half century in International Cricket and this time we got to see in Mumbai cricket by a talented all-rounder called Harshad Rawle.
Yogi CC batting first at KSA, Cross Maidan notched up 139/10 in 47.1overs with not a single batsman managing to convert their 10’s and 20’s into a big score. The bowlers did a good job with off-spinner Harshad Rawle being the pick of the bowlers taking 6/63 in 17overs with 2maidens. Harshad bowled in the right areas not allowing any batsman to settle as he kept on giving breakthroughs to his team.
Amar CC on the other hand were off to a good start with their openers Sai Naidu (52) and Mehul Gokani (33) chipping in with the bat. Right handed Harshad Rawle who came at no.3 scored an aggressive 50 off 48balls smashing 3fours and 3sixes as Amar CC declared their innings at 141/4 winning the match on 1st innings lead.
It was a commanding win for the team while Harshad Rawle becomes only the 2nd player this year after Dhaval Panchal to score a half century & take 5wkts in the same match in Kanga League
It was a match dominated by bowlers at Azad Maidan as one bowler from each team managed to change the game making it an interesting competition to watch.
Superstar SC batting first were reduced to mere 63runs all out in 34.4overs with only two batsman managing to score in two digits. Juhu Vile Parle Gymkhana captain Samadh Akhtar bowled a terrific spell taking a stunning 5 for 12 in 7overs with 7maidens troubling the batsman to the hilt.
A easy win was on the cards for Juhu Vile Parle Team but Shreyans Bogar from Superstar changed the script in a matter of few overs. Left-arm medium pacer Shreyansh bowled one of the best spells of this year’s kanga running through the batting line up of opposition taking 8/21 in 7.5overs. His accurate spell of fast bowling also included 4batsman getting out clean bowled as Superstar SC from nowhere won the match on 1st innings lead.
Played between Ours CC and Maharashtra Young Cricketers at Cross Maidan, Ours CC batting first declared their innings on 184/6 dec. Despite a sloppy start by the openers, Ours CC in-form and dependable batsman Dushyant Kadam once again brought his team back into the game scoring an unbeaten 101* off 118balls.
Right handed Dushyant smashed 12fours and a six while did good running between the wickets keeping the scorecard ticking at a healthy strike rate of 85.59. Maharashtra Young Cricketers in reply showed strong resistance as they did not allow themselves to lose all wickets till the end of the game’s play. Maharashtra team were 119 for 6 in 36overs as the match ended in a draw.
Even though it was a draw, Dushant Kadam’s 101* was a treat to watch under difficult conditions. Dushant now has 204runs at an average of 102.00 in 3matches so far.
Even when cub lions are born, they are never afraid to attack on other animals of the jungle who are much bigger and elder to them. They know their abilities and they back them up with full confidence and such a very similar case in cricket was witnessed a few days ago when a mere 17yr old Farhan Shaikh attacked the batsman who were almost twice his age and experience with his wily spin.
Mazgaon CC batting first at Oval Maidan were all out for 120runs, thanks to this little genius called Farhan who bagged a stunning 6/43 in 15overs against players with an average age of 28 to 30. Farhan bowled really well in the right areas and hardly appeared to be afraid playing against senior players as he kept on breaking the partnerships taking wickets at regular intervals.
Young Parsee CC in reply declared their innings at 112/5 in 30overs with their wicket-keeper opening batsman Bharat Singh top scoring the innings with a gritty 60 off 90balls(4fours). Young Parsee CC won the match on 1st innings lead and it was their 17yr old left arm spinner Farhan winning the hearts of everyone!
Remember Pardeep Sahu bagging all 10wkts in Kanga in Mumbai Cricket years ago or Anil Kumble bagging all 10wkts vs Pakistan in International cricket? Well this year it was this pacer Bharat Shinde on the verge of achieving that unique record joining the elite list of such experienced bowlers. Bharat who had taken 9wkts in an innings in Kanga in 2013-14 this time again missed that unique record by 2wkts but he definitely achieved the record of the best bowling figures across all divisions in Kanga League 2018 which is a commendable achievement for a bowler.
In the match which was held at Shivaji Park, Bluestar CC elected to bat first with an aim of making a decent total to put Navi Mumbai SC under pressure. However, the game changed upside down for Bluestar CC as fast bowler Bharat Shinde came up with terrific bowling figures of 8/10 in 14overs with 8maidens which restricted Bluestar to 75runs all out in 37.3overs. Bharat’s searing pace and consistent line and length made life difficult for the batsman as he simply did not allow any batsman to settle at the crease.
Navi Mumbai SC in reply made 130/8dec and it was a good day for Bharat as he remained unbeaten with the bat too hitting a boundary and a six at no.9. Navi Mumbai SC won the match on 1st innings and if was definitely Bharat Shinde grabbing all the attention with his pace bowling.
Played between MB Union CC and Kandivali CA at the Cross Maidan Ground, MB Union CC after being made to bat first were all out for 161runs in49.4overs. Left arm spinner Niraj Shah bowled an impressive spell bagging as many as 6wkts while conceding 63runs in his 19.4overs. Niraj bowled in the right areas while also maintained good line and length which fetched him good results.
On the other hand, Kandivali CA managed to score 146/8 in 36overs before the end of the game’s play. Kandivali team could have been all out for under 100runs but it was Ruturaj Mungekar who saved his team from narrow defeat. Ruturaj smashed almost half of the team total scoring crucial 71runs of 85balls laced with 5fours and 3sixes.
It was Niraj’s bowling and Ruturaj’s innings which saved their team from a defeat against MB Union CC.
There are some bowlers who can change the game in a matter of few sessions and Rahul Sawant is one such bowler who showed that in the last weekend of the Kanga League. Played at the Cross Maidan, Yogi CC took on Pandurangwadi CC where in Yogi CC batting first were restricted to 179/10 in 53.1overs.
Trailing 180, Pandurangwadi CC recieved a brilliant fight from the Yogi CC boys where in left-arm spinner Rahul Sawant changed the game for his team. Coming into the attack, Rahul Sawant went on to take a brilliant 7/24 in 15overs with 8maidens completely cleaning up the oppositions batting line up. Rahul has been amongst the top wicket takers for his team and this spell of him single handedly changed the game for Yogi CC.
Yogi CC won the match on 1st innings lead and it was definitely Rahul’s bowling which remained the highlight perfomance of the match. Rahul was also recently awarded the best bowler in Times Shield C Division.
Played between New Hind SC and Cricket Club of India at the Dadkar Maidan, CCI winning the toss opted to bowl first while it hardly affected New Hind SC as they amassed a very good total of 241/4dec in 53overs.
The openers gave a good start with 30’s but it was Sachin Yadav and Siddhant Adhatrao (55 off 94balls) at the middle order steadying the ship for their team with a 157runs stand. Left-handed Sachin Yadav went on to score a composed 102* off 115balls smashing 12fours and a six. Sachin played some amazing shots while also did good running between the wickets which fetched him a classy ton.
CCI on the other hand were on the verge of a narrow defeat before the game ended with CCI one wicket to spare at 69/9 in 23overs. The match ended in a draw while Sachin’s ton definitely grabbed all the attention.
Played at the United Cricketers Cross Maidan, United Cricketers were made to bat first by Apollo CC C team on their home turf. Their decision to bowl first was spot on as they reduced United Cricketers to mere 67runs all out in the 1st innings. The bowler who turned the game for Apollo team was Pratik Sargade bagging 5/15 in 11overs with 6maidens in what was a very impressive spell of spin bowling.
Apollo CC declared their innings on 87/2 with opener Riyaz Mohamad scoring an aggressive 54 off 48balls.United Cricketer were again bundled out for 126runs in their 2nd innings as the bowler on song Pratik Sargade this time bagged a stunning 7wkts for 49runs taking his tally of wickets to 12/64 in the match. Apollo CC batted for 4overs without the loss of any wickets before the end of the game’s play where they won the match on 1st innings lead.
It was a match where Pratik simply snatched the game away single handedly from United Cricketers helping his team win dominantly.