Played at the Western Railways, Cross Maidan, it was the all important Quarter Finals between Nanavati S.S Hospital and B.Arunkumar Sports Club where in B.ArunKumar SC won the toss and elected to bat first.
Batting first, ArunKumar Boys were bundled out for just 184runs in49.1 overs where in Anish Chaudhary at no.3 played a solid knock of 60 off mere 85balls(6fours) which helped his team from an embarrassment of a low total. From the bowling side, the bowler who impressed one and all with his superlative perfomance was spinner Rahul sawant as he came up with match-winning bowling figures of 5/35 in 16.1overs(2maidens). Rahul not bowled in the right areas with good accuracy but he also kept taking wickets at regular intervals.
Chasing 186, Nanavati boys did lose quick wickets at the top but their middle order consisting of Rahul Sawant (45 off 40), Bhushan Shinde (29 off 42) and Atharva Ankolekar (32* off 46balls) resurrected the innings back to script a quarter finals win by 4wkts. It was a match where both the teams fought well but it was all-rounder Rahul Sawant who stood out with excellent all-round show bagging 5wkts while also top scoring with the bat.
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Played at the National C.C Cross Maidan, it was a match between two promising young teams namely Apollo youngsters and Worli Cricket Club where in Worli Cricket Club won the toss and elected to bat first with an aim of making a big total.
Worli CC’s batting line up however crumbled as they were bundled out for just 115runs in 32.5 overs. Almost all the batsman found it hard to convert their starts with Akshay Nivalkar being the shining spot scoring a fighting knock of 51 off 55balls at a time when his whole team was struggling. Right arm medium pacer Dhruvil Mehta was the pick of the bowlers taking 4/29 in 8overs. Dhruvil not only bowled tight but took crucial wickets with nice line and length while the other bowlers also bowled well around him.
Chasing 116 was a mere formality for Apollo Youngsters as their experienced batsman Vivek Patel at no.3 anchored the chase with a match winning 57 off 61balls while he also got good support from Farhan Shaikh who scored 47*. This is not the 1st time Vivek has impressed the spectators with the bat as he has been scoring runs consistently this season while Farhan was also equally good. Apollo Youngsters eventually won the match by 7wkts on the back of some good bowling by Dhruvil as well as impressive batting by Vivek and Farhan.
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Played at the Central Maidan, Thane, it was the all-important finale of the A Div of the Thane Vaibhav Tournament 2018 where in Greater Mumbai Police won the toss and elected to bat first considering they have a good batting line up to chase.
Made to bat first, Route Mobile did a fairly decent job as they notched up a healthy score of 238/9 in 35 overs which is anyday defendable. Even though they did felt the early jitters losing some quick wickets at the top, Dinar Gaonkar at no.4 chipped in with 30 while talented Akhtar Shaikh at no.5 made all the difference coming up with a very crucial 50 off just 40balls(6fours, 2sixes). Akhtar succeeded in changing the momentum as he looked really good and confident against the bowlers while Tanush Kotian and Sachin Gill chipped in with handy contributions of 38runs each at the lower middle order which eventually took their team total to a very defendable score.
Chasing 239 in 210 balls is not the easiest of tasks and that too in a finals of any tournament and Mumbai Police must have felt the pressure of chasing at almost 7runs per over as they were all-out for 183runs in 28.2 overs where middle order bat Shrikant Limbole top scored with 48. Vishal Dhagaonkar who has been consistent throughout the tournament once again delivered in the finals taking 3wkts for just 2runs while Siddarth and Hitesh Parmar also taking 2wkts each. Route Mobile eventually won the finals on the back of excellent team perfomance by 55runs and lift the prestigious Thane Vaibhav Trophy with pride.
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This boy is certainly on a roll, just fresh from a great series in the Vasai Colts where he notched up 337 runs in 5matches with a best score of 147. Arpit seems to be not done yet with his purple patch as he has continued the flow in Inter-school tournament too smashing his 4th ton in the last 3months. Played between National English high School and Abhinav Vidya Mandir School at the Sainath Sports Club, NES won the toss and elected to bat first on the back of their strong batting line up.
Batting first, NES posted a very good total of 301runs in 41.2 overs and once again the pick of the batsman was their premier no.3 Arpit Dhadve who went on to score a scintillating 104 off mere 74balls. The way Arpit was hitting the ball and confidently developing his innings was really evident by the fact that he is in a different zone right now. Smashing 13fours and good running between the wickets, Arpit kept the scoreboard the ticking. Dhadve also indulged in a mammoth 191run stand with Parth Naik who just fell one run short of a classy century. Parth was equally destructive smashing 10fours and 3sixes wherein he took just 71deliveries to reach 99. Harsh Sujar dismissed him on 99 but it was never the less as good as a ton.
Defending 302, NES bundled out Abhinav Vidyamandir School to just 125runs where in all-rounder Parth Naik was the pick of the bowlers too taking 3/20 while the rest of the bowlers also did a terrific job. NES school won the match by 177runs and it was definately Parth and Arpit who stood out and dominated in the match.
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As we had predicted earlier, the tournament will witness exciting matches and great individual performances and this time it was Saud with the ball. Played at the Dombivali Gymkhana between Dilip Vengsarkar Academy,Mahul and New Hind Sports Club, New Hind SC won the toss and elected to bat first with an aim to make a big 1st innings total.
New Hind batting first were skittled out for mere 124runs all out in 30.3 overs where in apart from their openers Prajwal(30) & Ankrish (25), everyone struggled against the bowlers. From IDBI Vengsarkar Academy, it was their talented left arm spinner Saud Mansoori who was the most impressive of the lot coming up with match winning bowling figures of 5/30 in 7.3 overs(2maidens). Saud kept on bowling in the right areas taking important breakthroughs to restrict the opposition to a low total.
New Hind SC did gave a tough fight defending their low total not allowing them to win the match before taking their 7wkts. The bowlers did gave a tough fight with Aaradhya Shinde was the pick of the bowlers with 3/16 in 8overs(4maidens). Vengsarkar Academy won the match by 3wkts where in Saud Mansoori was declared ‘man of the match’ for his terrific bowling perfomance.
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The month of January was a fascinating one as far as cricket was concerned. Some big tournaments were going on while a lot of T20 matches also happened throughout the month. There were some really big knocks while some were delivered in crunch situations while some were literally record breaking.
Out of hundreds of hundreds all over the Mumbai throughout the Tournament, we shortlisted this Top 5 who stood out in Mumbai Cricket for the month of January 2018.
Joint 5th– Shahid Shaikh(RHB)- 147 off 92balls, Padmakar Talim Shield Tournament 2018
Played between Police Gymkhana and PJ Hindu Gymkhana on Police Gymkhana’s home turf, PJ Hindu Gymkhana elected to field first. Their decision to field was not the most accurate as Police Gymkhana amassed 366/5 on the board in 45 overs. Opener Shahid Shaikh set the tone for the innings as he scored an entertaining knock of 147 coming off mere 92balls. Shahid did not spare a single bowler as he meted out the same treatment to all and i.e to attack. Shaikh’s knock included 12fours and as many as 9sixes much to the delight of the spectators and his team mates alike. In reply, PJ Hindu Gymkhana fought well but eventually fell short by 72runs. Police Gymkhana won the match where in the whole team contributed well but it was opener Shahid who stood out with his counter attacking knock of 147.
5th– Sahil Jadhav- 150 off 324balls, Giles Shield Tournament 2018 Finals match
Don Bosco and Rizvi Springfield, the schools which are considered to be the most powerful and strong teams at the school level finally clashed with each other after an intenseful season where both the teams fought hard throughout the tournament to reach the ultimate face off and that is the finale at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Rizvi who have a strong batting line up elected to bat first after winning the toss and notched up a mammoth 495/8 in 135.2 overs.
Chasing 496, Don Bosco were literally struggling at 7/87 at one stage but one boy who won the hearts of everyone was Sahil Jadhav at no.4 who did not gave up till the very last ball as he scored a hard-fought 150 facing as many as 324deliveries to give his best to save Don Bosco from a defeat. Sahil who smashed 19fours kept on scoring runs at one end while wickets were falling from the other side. Even though his team fell short of 100runs but Sahil was the winner in everyone’s eyes with such a fighting knock.
4th– Aanchal Valanju (RHB)- 100 off 46balls
Good to see a woman’s cricketer making it into the Top 5 knocks this time. Aanchal Valanju who is one of the most promising names right now in Women’s cricket in Mumbai showed everyone why she is special for a reason.
Played between two talented teams namely SVM international school and St.Joseph Convent High School, it was the all important finals after a lot of hardwork put by both the teams. With a strong batting line up, SVM international school, Dadar won the toss and elected to bat first. Right handed Aanchal Valanju completely decimitated the bowlers with her fearless batting, Vaibhavi’s played the supporting role to perfection. Aanchal looked so confident and aggressive that she reached her 100 in mere 46 deliveries while she stayed unbeaten on 113* off mere 52balls which included 21fours. On the back of her swashbuckling ton, SVM managed to reach a mammoth total of 208/0 in 15 overs where most of the bowlers went for a beating. SVM won that match in style by a big margin of 179runs as St.Joseph were all-out for just 29runs where-in Akshi Gaurav had taken 6/9 for SVM.
3. Sumit Ghadihaonkar (RHB)- 193, Padmakar Talim Shield Tournament 2018
Seems like this attacking opener Sumit has a penchant to score big knocks just like Sehwag. Once he gets going he just can’t stop is what seems like by his current form this season. The man who has already scored two back to back double hundreds in the Police Shield Tournament so far in November missed out by just 7runs in the Talim Shield to make it his 3rd double this season.
Played at the United Cricketers Ground in Mumbai, MIG CC and United Cricketers took on each other where in United Cricketers won the toss and elected to field first. Even though Sumit’s opening partner fell early but Sumit went on to score a big ton. Ghadigaonkar has in fact developed a nack of converting his hundreds into big scores as he again smashed 193 off mere 135balls. Sumit played like as if it was a T20 game hitting 25fours and 7sixes much to the entertainment of his team mates and the spectators alike taking his team total to a mammoth 373/7 in 45overs. United Cricketers lost the match by 212runs chasing such a big score and once again it was Sumit who was the standout performer.
2. Sagar Shah (RHB)- 101*off 42balls, GSC Champions Cup 2018
The run machine of GSC Tournament who was already hitting fast fifties this time shocked everyone with a thumping 42ball ton. Played at the Aarey Bhaskar Cricket Ground between Knights and Mumbai Tigers A, Mumbai Tigers won the toss and elected to field first.
However, they were not aware about the zone in which Knight’s opener Sagar Shah was in. Sagar took on the bowlers from the word ‘go’ and continued his form from the last match. The hard hitting aggressive opener this time went on to make 101* off mere 42 deliveries smashing 9fours and as many as 7sixes to enthrall his team mates and the spectators alike. It was on the back of Sagar’s 101* which took the team total to a healthy 200/3 in mere 90balls (15overs). Mumbai Tigers managed to reach only 106/7 in 15 over as Knights won the match by 95runs and opener Sagar Shah was declared ‘man of the match’ for his fantastic innings.
& Finally no.1- Fastest Hundred in Mumbai Cricket (Leather ball)
1. Maulik Mehta (RHB)- 110 off 38balls, KSG Inter-Club Cricket Cup 2017-18
MAULIK WHO AMASSED 648RUNS IN THE KSG TOURNAMENT, MAULIK WHO ALSO SCORED A SCINTILLATING 178 IN KSG TOURNAMENT a few months ago was AGAIN BACK WITH A BANG AND THIS TIME HE ADDS ANOTHER LEAF TO HIS RECORDS AS HE SMASHED A 32BALL TON TO STAMP HIS AUTHORITY AS ONE OF THE MOST ATTACKING BATSMAN IN MUMBAI LOCAL CRICKET.
PLAYED BETWEEN KSG CHALLENGERS AND KSGRO AT THE OLD PAYYADE GROUND, THE STRONG KSG CHALLENGERS WON THE TOSS AND ELECTED TO BAT FIRST. EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE 26/4 AT ONE STAGE, THEIR MIDDLE ORDER SIMPLY TOOK THE GAME AWAY FROM THE OPPOSITION. VINIT PAREKH SCORED A SCINTILLATING 101 OFF 79BALLs RESURRECTing THE INNINGS BACK WHILE IN CAME MAULIK AT NO.6 AS HE COMPLETELY MAULED THE BOWLERS AND ENTERTAINED HIS TEAM MATES AND SPECTATORS ONCE AGAIN WITH HIS FIREBRAND BATTING. MAULIK WENT ON TO SCORE110 OFF MERE 38DELIVERIES WHERE IN HE REACHED HIS HUNDRED IN A RECORD BREAKING 31DELIVERIES MAKING IT ONE OF THE ALL TIME FASTEST TONS IN MUMBAI CRICKET. IT WAS FIREWORKS EVERYWHERE AS HE SMASHED 16FOURS AND 6SIXES IN HIS BRUTAL BATTING. VINIT AND MAULIK ALSO STITCHED A CRUCIAL 128RUN STAND BETWEEN THEM TO TAKE THEIR TEAM TOTAL TO A MAMMOTH 380/10 IN 40OVERS. (Ashok sHETH HAD ALSO SCORED A RAVISHING 62BALL 113 IN THAT INNINGS)
EVENTUALLY KSG CHALLENGERS WON THE MATCH BY 137RUNS. IT WAS OVERALL A GREAT MATCH WHERE WE GOT TO SEE 4CENTURIES WHICH ALSO INCLUDED THE MUMBAI’S FASTEST TON FROM THE BAT OF MAULIK.
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Played at the Western Railways Cricket Ground, it was a match between Indiana Cricket Clinic and VK Krishna Menon Academy where in VK boys won the toss and elected to bat first considering they have a very decent batting line up.
However, VK academy’s batting crumbled with no one managing to score in 2 figures apart from opener Princely who scored 21 and no.4 batsman Vineet Parmar who scored a solid 51 off 54balls at a time when batsman from the other end were losing their wickets. Vineet looked really confident as he stayed unbeaten smashing 5fours at a healthy strike rate of 95. Amaan Khan and Roshan Kunchikorve were the pick of the bowlers scalping 2wickets each.
Chasing a mere 100, talented Shaikh Shajaz at no.3 and a mockery of the bowlers hitting a counter attacking 28ball 55* to finish the game in style. Seemed like Shaikh was in quite a hurry to wrap up the chase quickly smashing 7fours and a six at a strike rate of almost 200. From VK, Saksham Rawat who is quite a talent once again turned out to be impressive being the pick of the bowlers scalping 4/31 in 5 overs. Indiana Cricket Clinic eventually won the match by 5wkts where in Shaikh was declared ‘man of the match’
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Played at the Sydenham College Cricket Ground, Oval Maidan, it was the all important match between Salgaonkar Sports Academy Thane & Active Sports Women’s Cricket Academy where in Active Sports WCA won the toss and elected to bat first with an aim of making a big total to defend.
Batting first, Active Sports WCA were off to a flying start with the help of their talented openers Aarti Yadav and Charu Todankar as both the openers indulged in a 101run opening stand in mere 57balls which set the tone for the innings. Aarti Yadav scored a 43ball 61 which included 7fours at a strike rate of 141.90 while his partner Charu Todankar also played a quickfire knock of 61 off mere 41 deliveries (7fours). Both the girls not only smashed some good cricketing shots but also did some good running between the wickets.
Defending a total of 191, Active Sports W.M.A restricted SSCt to just 123/4 in 20 overs with their tight bowling. Opener Sanika Chalke scored a fighting knock of 48 but they found it tough to attack the opposition bowlers. Almost everyone succeeded in restricting the batsman but Aishwarya Gamre with 3/28 was the pick of the bowlers. Active Sports W.C.A won the match by 25runs while Charu Todankar was declared ‘man of the match’. Aarti’s 61 was equally commendable in the match too.
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Played at the Chereshwar Club Trombay, it was a crucial match between two important teams namely VK Architects and Dynamites where in Dynamites XI won the toss and elected to bat first considering they have a strong batting order.
Their decision to bat first was spot on as they were off to a flying start where in M Kanakia and Shahen Mistry gave a terrific opening stand of 123 runs. While Kanakia scored a gritty 48, the ever dependable Shahen Mistry went on to anchor the team’s batting as he scored an unbeaten 104* off 67balls to remaining till the end. Shahen who has not done this for the 1st time once again played at a very aggressive strike rate of 155 smashing 11fours and 5biggies in his knock which took the team total to 195/3 in 20 overs. VK Architecht could have been tighter with the ball and could have tried restricting them to around 160-170 atleast.
Chasing at almost 10runs per over, VK Architects did felt the pressure against some tight bowling as they managed to score only 104/7 in 20 overs. Shahen Mistry with 2/14 was the best bowler too while P Hodawadekar also bowled well coming up with 2/28 in his 4 overs. Dynamites won the match by 91runs and it was definitely ‘man of the match’ Shahen who owned the day both with the bat as well as with the ball.
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Played at the Central maidan in Thane, it was the all important finals between two really strong teams namely BARC Staff Club and Godrej Staff Club who have fought their way hard to reach the finals. On winning the toss Godrej SC won the toss and elected to bat first with an to capitalize and make a big total.
Batting first, Godrej SC were 172/all out in 33.3 overs where in Santosh B was the highest scorer smashing 38 while the rest of the batsman failed to cover their 10’s and 20’s. The bowler who was the most impressive of the lot was BARC’s left-arm spinner Samadhan Kanandai who took 4/10 in 3.3 overs to trouble the batsman. This is not the 1st time Samadhan has come up with such a match winning spell as he has earlier also taken a 6wkt haul in the tournament.
Chasing a modest total of 173 and that too in the high intensity finals is a bit of a low score to defend as BARC easily chased down the score in mere 29.3 overs. The openers gave a solid start while Nitin Kadam at no.4 top scored with 47. No.3 Umesh Bondre (36*) and Vikas Pol (29*) finished of the chase in style helping their team win the match by 7wkts. BARC who have been consistent throughout the tournament won the finals and lift the trophy on the back of their collective team perfomance.
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