Played at the Wankhede stadium, North Mumbai Panthers took on Namo Bandra Blasters in a crucial MPL clash where in North Mumbai Panthers won the toss and elected to bat first which has been quite a rare occurrence in this tournament so far as the teams who have bowled first have won the match most of the times.
Their decision to bat first did not proved to be spot on as North Mumbai Panthers managed to score only 125/9 in 20 overs which is surely not the best of the scores to defend in a T20 game. Bandra bowlers performed exceedingly well bowling really tight while also chipping in with wickets. The bowling perfomance was spot on with 4bowlers namely Atul Singh, Karsh Kothari, Azhar Ansari and pick of the bowlers Pravin Tambe taking 2wkts each while Shashikant Kadam also chipped in with a wicket. From North Mumbai, Sairaj Patil was the highest scorer with 26runs as every batsman failed to convert their starts.
Chasing 127 was a mere formality for Bandra Blasters and why not when you have a potent attacking pair of Eknath Kerkar and Shreyas Iyer at the helm. Both the boys made a mockery of the target chasing it down in mere 11.3 overs without the loss of any wickets. Eknath smashed a solid 50* off 36balls(4fours, 3sixes) playing the anchors role while Shreyas took the onus of attacking as he scored 71* in mere 34deliveries smashing 8fours and 3sixes to seal the deal for his team. It was good to see the attacking Eknath spending some time at the crease supporting Shreyas. On the other hand, Shreyas was in acceleration mode since the very 1st over.
Namo Bandra Blasters clinched a big stylish win over North Mumbai Panthers by 10wkts and 8.3 overs to spare on the back of their talented prolific openers.
CRICKETGRAPH
Held at the Western Railway, Cross Maidan, DMCC and Godrej India Assosciates Club took on each other for a crucial times shield clash where in Godrej won the toss and elected to bat first with an aim of making a big 1st innings target to defend.
However, DMCC was in for a shock as they were reduced to mere 62runs all out in 24.1 overs. Their decision to bat first did not prove to be spot on as their team registered as many as 5ducks while only two players crossing the double digits with the bat. The major reason for that batting collapse was DMCC’s fast bowler Jadish Jadhav. Jadhish literally cleaned the entire top order to middle order with his precise and tight bowling as he came up with match winning bowling figures of 5/16 in 7 overs. Jagdhish bowled some really great deliveries which provided breakthroughs while he also got good support from DMCC’s pace spearhead Mehboob Shaikh who also chipped in with 3wkts. Overall it was a collectively tight bowling perfomance where Jagdhish was the most impressive getting into the nerves of the batsman with his accurate bowling.
It was a mere formality for DMCC boys to chase the score as the top order finished the chase in 13 overs with the loss of just 2wkts. DMCC won the match by 5wtks and it was surely on the back of exceptional bowling by Jagdish.
CRICKETGRAPH
Played on 17tmarch at the iconic Wankhede stadium between Sobo Supersonics and Arcs Andheri, it was the all important clash between two promising teams where in Arcs Andheri won the toss and elected to bowl first since the majority of teams have won here bowling first.
Sobo boys hardly looked affected after being made to bat first. They were as always off to a flying start by their dependable pair of openers in Jay Bista (30) and Aakarshit Gomel (66). Both the openers gave a 63run opening stand in 7overs while Gomel smashed a solid fifty developing the positive momentum. Attacking all-rounder Sujit Nayak who is known for his firebrand batting this time pounced on the momentum left behind by the openers as he spelled carnage over the Arcs Andheri bowlers going on to smash a 42ball entertaining 99*. Sujit fell just one run short of what could have been the 1st ton of MPL. Sujit literally took on the bowlers and lit every corner of the ground with as many as 6fours and 9big sixes much to the entertainment of his teammates and the spectators alike. Sobo Supersonics reached a massive total of 236/3 in 20 overs on the back of his superlative innings.
Chasing 237 in 20 overs is always a pressure situation in a T20 game and Arcs Andheri were off to a shaky start with their openers and top order collapsing. Arcs Andheri were 43/5 at one stage but it was the ever dependable Shubham Ranjane who scored a valiant 36ball 58 while all-rounder Iqbal Abdullah’s 40ball 57* down the order was also eqully impressive which took Arcs Andheri to a respectable 158/10 in 18.3 overs. Had these two not smashed fifties, they would have been all-out for 70-80runs. The major reason for their collapse was Mumbai’s most promising fast bowler and Sobo Supersonics’s pace spearhead Badrey Alam coming up with the best bowing figures of the tournament. Badrey took a stunning 5/18 in 4overs which included crucial wickets through his fantastic line and length, disciplined bowling and healthy pace.
Sobo Supersonics clinched a dominating win by 78runs as Sujit’s 99 played a big role in the win while Badrey took care of the bowling department.
CRICKETGRAPH
Played at the Shastri Parks, it was a crucial clash between Delhi Warriors and Shastri Park Colts won the toss and elected to bat first as the wicket looked good to bat on and post a big 1st innings total to put Delhi Warriors under pressure.
Shastri Park Colts with the help of Mohamad Kaif (59 off 55balls) & Debu Singh (89 off 79balls) reached a handsome total of 255/8 in 40 overs which is a very good score to defend. Both the batsman who came at no.3 and 4 respectively were impressive while all-rounder Sourav Nautiyal was the pick of the bowlers taking 4/31 in 8 overs. Sourav bowled really tight keeping the batsman in check while the rest of the bowlers also did a fairly good job bowling around him.
Chasing 256, Sourav who is known for his firebrand batting and good starts once again gave a flying start as he went on to score a match winning 70ball 100 laced with 11fours and 5sixes. Opening the innings, Sourav took on the bowlers with pure dominance as he smashed some really good shots while anchoring his innings to a successful chase.
Delhi Warriors who were 176/6 in 25.1 overs were eventually declared winners by the DL method as they won the match by 4wkts. It was a good win for Delhi Warriors where in Sourav stood out with his all-round perfomance.
CRICKETGRAPH
A lion alone is enough to rule the jungle but when there are group of lions attacking together and marking their territory it becomes all the more difficult for anyone to tame them. A similar sort of event occurred in the F Division Times Shield Match which was played between HT Media and Hafelle India at the DPC Matunga ground in Mumbai.
Hafelle India who won the toss elected to field first with an aim of restricting HT Media to a low total. However, they were in for a shock as HT media registered a mammoth total of 415/7 in 45 overs on the back of their solid batting line up. Team totals like this are not achieved everyday and that too in mere 270 deliveries but it was all possible because of collective team perfomance by the HT boys. HT media were off to a flying start by their openers Prithvi K (48) and Swapnil B (91 off 38 deliveries) as they notched up 139 runs for the 1st wicket in the 1st 12 overs which developed a great positive momentum. Swapnil missed out on mere 9runs on what could have been the fastest Times Shield ton of 2018. That was not all as Vaibhav P and Fazil M also chipped in with 42 & 50 respectively to continue the good start left behind by the openers. Mohsin M who smashed a brilliant hundred in the last match continued his good form smashing a solid 67* off 50balls while skipper Kavaldeep Singh who came at no.8 proved to be quite costly for Hafelle as his late blitz of 41ball 71 down the order took the team total to cross the 400 run mark. HT media who were 270/6 at one stage further accelerated due to Kavaldeep’s onslaught at the lower middle order. What’s more he also plonked one bowler out of the park for as many as 28runs in the 38th over. In a carnage of sorts, almost all the bowlers went for a thrashing as every corner of the ground were laced with 4”s and 6”s by the HT batsman.
Chasing 417 in 45 overs is always difficult and a pressure situation. Hafelle must have experienced the same while chasing as they were skittled out for just 57runs in 13.1 overs. Skipper Kavaldeep (Right-arm fast) who was the 2nd highest scorer with 71 was also amongst the pick of the bowlers taking 3/14 in 3 overs while left arm quickster Fazil with 3/9 in 4 overs was the pick of the bowlers for HT. Spinner Kunal N. also bowled well chipping in with 3/20 as three of them kept a tight line and length to trouble the batsman.
It was a perfect team perfomance by HT Media team wherein all the boys chipped in their capacities which eventually help them register a big win by 358runs.
CRICKETGRAPH
Played at the New Hind Ground at Matunga, IDBI took on SSC where in IDBI won the toss and elected to bowl first with an aim of restricting SSC to a low total with the help of their strong bowling line up.
Their decision to bowl first was quite spot on SSC was restricted to mere 80runs all out in 16.3 overs. It was a collectively tight bowling perfomance from all the bowlers where in Adwait, Rajesh, Mayuresh and Nikhil all chipped in with 2wkts while Shiva from SSC who opened the innings top scored with 23runs.
Chasing a paltry 81, it was a mere formality for IDBI boys and why not when they have a solid and consistent opener like Vivek Patel who has been scoring runs at a really good average past one year. Vivek smashed an unbeaten 52* coming off mere 26balls at a strike rate of 200 smashing 7fours and 2sixes to seal the chase for his team in style. Vivek literally pounced on every bowler smashing boundaries in almost every corner of the ground.
IDBI finished off the chase in mere 9.1 overs and won the match in style by 9wkts on the back of Vivek Patel’s 52* which also earned him ‘man of the match’
CRICKETGRAPH
Played at the Wankhede Stadium, Shivaji Park lions and North Mumbai Panthers took on each other where in North Mumbai panthers won the toss and elected to bowl first as most of the teams who have been bowling first have fetched good results at the Wankhede stadium.
Their decision to bowl first proved to be quite spot on as Shivaji Park Lions were restricted to just 135/9 in 20 overs which is always a modest total to defend in T20’s. Almost all the batsman struggled apart from Siddarth Akre who scored 39 at no.3 while all-rounder Raunaq Sharma chipping in with 28runs down the order. From Mumbai North East, quickster Saeed Shaikh bowled an amazing spell taking 4/18 in 4overs. Not only was he economical but also gave important breakthroughs with his tight line and length.
Chasing 139, North Mumbai boys were struggling on one point with 3wkts down for just 28runs. Shivaji Park Lions were giving a hard time but one of the most rising prospects of Mumbai cricket-Yashashwi Jaiswal who came at no.4 played an anchoring knock of 69*coming off mere 43deliveries. Yashashwi smashed 5fours and 3sixes while did good running between the wickets to push his team cross the victory line by 5wkts and 2balls to spare.
CRICKETGRAPH
Datamatics who are playing professional cricket tournament like Times Cricket Shield for the first time are giving the experienced teams a hard time. The current Datamatics team who are very powerful and experienced in the shorter format at the corporate level are proving to be equally promising in the longer format too. In the match which was played against Bank of Maharashtra at the Azad Maidan ground, BOM won the toss and elected to bat first.
However, their decision to bat first proved to be costly as they were bundled out for just 109runs in 35.1 over. The bowlers did a really good job bowling tight where in Sagar was the most impressive of the lot bagging 4/15 in 9.3 overs while Pratik and Ritesh taking 2wkts each. It was overall a good job by the boys where in they bowled in good line and length not allowing the batsman to score runs freely. Sagar in particular was spot on being the pick of the bowlers.
Chasing a score of 110, Datamatics openers Vinayak and Malang Aras gave a flying start almost finishing the chase single handedly. Vinayak scored a match winning 50 which included some really good shots while Malang Aras also chipped in with an attacking 39.
Datamatics eventually won the match by 7wkts in a comfortable win and they are really looking promising where all the players are collectively doing a good job.
CRICKETGRAPH
Playing on Wankhede is always special and this match was played on that venue itself where in Mumbai North East and Arcs Andheri took on each other for a crucial MPL clash. Mumbai North East who won the toss elected to bowl first on the back of their strong batting line up.
Batting first, Arcs Andheri were off to a decent start provided by their openers wherein the ever dependable and solid Subramanian Doraswamy scoring an anchoring knock of 49 off 39deliveries but the rest of the batting line up collapsed below them as Arcs Andheri were all out for 116 in 19.1 overs thanks to Iqbal Abdullah’s 27 down the order. Experienced left arm spinner Vinayak Bhoir once again ensured that he was the pick of the bowlers. Vinayak gave only 14runs while taking 3crucial wickets in 4 overs which played a big role in Arcs Andheri’s collapse. The rest of the bowlers also bowled well chipping in with wickets.
Chasing 117 is a mere formality when you have two of the most prolific batsman of Mumbai Cricket opening the innings. Sumit Ghadigaonkar(32 off 20) and Shashank Singh gave a flying start smashing 70runs in the first 8overs while the consistent Shashank who has amassed close to 2000runs this season in Mumbai Cricket at an amazing average scored a 49ball 63 laced with 5fours and 2sixes to register his presence in MPL.
Mumbai North East eventually clinched a win by 7wkts and 4.3 overs to spare and it was definitely Vinayak with the ball & Shashank’s solid 63 which did the job for Mumbai North East.
CRICKETGRAPH
Played between Sobo Supersonics and Namo Bandra Blasters at the Wankhede Stadium, Bandra boys won the toss and elected to bowl first with an aim of restricting Sobo Supersonics to a low total.
Sobo Supersonics did felt some early jitters with their openers not able to provide a flying start. However, Prasad Pawar who came at no.4 smashed a match winning 83 to bring his team back into the game. Prasad who is known for playing such knocks took only 53deliveries smashing 6fours and 3sixes to push his team’s total to 149/6 in 18overs. Prasad smashed some really elegant shots while also did good running between the wickets to take his team towards a respectable total. Medium pacer Azhar Ansari was the pick of the bowlers taking 3/21 in 4overs.
Chasing 150 is not the biggest of totals but surely competitive enough if bowled well. However, Namo Bandra Blasters were bundled out for 99/9 in 19 overs on the back of excellent bowling by the experienced warhorse Abhishek Nayar and the talented Rohan Raje. While Abhishek was economical coming up with 3/17 in 4 overs, Rohan was equally impressive taking 3/24.
Sobo Supersonics won the match by 50 runs and it was surely on the back of excellent innings by the talented Prasad Pawar.
CRICKETGRAPH