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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Played at the Union Cricket Academy, Wayle Nagar, it was the all important high intensity finals between two promising teams full of talented players who have fought their way hard to reach the finals namely IES Chandrakant Patkar Vidyalaya & KC Gandhi School. On winning the toss KC Gandhi elected to field first planning to bundle them out for a low total and chase down the score.
Made to bat first, IES school did a decent job as they made a defendable total of 234 runs in 84 overs. Though most of the batsman failed to convert their 10’s and 20’s, Pratham Nambiar at no.4 top scored with a solid looking 58 off 102 balls which helped them cross the 200 run mark. Pratham smashed 9 fours and looked confident for his stay at the crease while Parth Wad also looked solid for his 38. Off-spinner Atharva Dikholkar was the most impressive of the bowlers scalping 5/49 in 20 overs which included 6 maidens. Skipper Jaycool also bowled well.
Chasing 235 is not an impossible task but when you have talented bowlers to defend, it certainly is. KC Gandhi school were all out for 152 runs in 55 overs on the back of some stunning bowling by Atharva Datar. Jaycool Girase scored a fighting knock of 42 but he lacked support from the other end. Right arm leg spinner Atharva Datar was the pick of the bowlers coming up with a superlative and a match winning bowling spell of 6/58 in 22 overs with 7 maidens. Not only did Atharva kept on taking wickets at regular intervals but he also did not allow the opposition to score runs freely which eventually reaped rewards for him as well as his team. IES C.P Vidyalaya won the match by 82 runs and win the finals of the tournament lifting the Ghantali Cup on the back of some excellent bowling by Atharva and a solid fifty by Pratham coupled with collective team efforts throughout the tournament.
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Played between Greater Mumbai Police & RBI at the Central Maidan, Thane, it was the all important finals between two big teams where in RBI won the toss and elected to bat first with an aim of making a big 1st innings total.
Batting first, RBI failed to capitalize as they were bundled out for mere 128runs where in Tejas(35) and Rajesh(28) at the middle order saved the noise. Right arm medium pacer Santosh Shinde was the pick of the bowlers as he took 4/28 to dent the opposition’s batting line up. Santosh bowled with nice accuracy coupled with amazing line and length which reaped rewards for him as well as his team.
Chasing a modest total of 129, Mumbai police won the match in style by 9wkts as opener Hanuman Poojari scored a superlative 55 off 42balls(6fours,3sixes) to set the tone for the chase while no.3 batsman Rohit Pol stayed unbeaten finishing off the chase with a 49ball 57* (6fours, 3sixes) to seal his team’s spot in the finals. It was a great match where in Greater Mumbai police dominated right from the start.
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Same time last year in Dec-January-feb, a run fest had begun from the bat of Ved, he smashed 4double centuries and even after that kept he on scoring runs consistently and now comes the month of feb in 2018 and he again starts the year on a similar note.
Played between Union Cricket Academy & Friends CC at the Dombivali Gymkhana, Union C.A won the toss and elected to field first with an aim of restricting Friends CC to a low total. However, Union Ca A were not aware about Friends CC’s prolific opener who has a tendency to convert his 50’s into hundreds and then hundreds into big hundreds. Opening the innings, Vedprakash Jaiswal scored a very solid looking 104 off 103balls which included 14fours and 3sixes. Ved whose natural style is usually attacking tried keeping calm and set his eyes in first before he started scoring freely. Apart from him, Rugved More was the second highest scorer with 55* off mere 25balls (4fours,4sixes). Rugved who is another promising name made sure the eyes were on him too with his electrifying knock which eventually took the team total to 254/5 in 40 overs.
Defending 255, Friends CC restricted Union C.A to just 153/all out in 33.4 overs. Off spinner Sachin Rao was the most impressive bowler in the match coming up with match winning bowling figures of 5/29 in 8overs. Sachin bowled in the right areas with impressive line and length while he was also turning the ball nicely. Friends CC won the match by 101runs where in Sachin and Ved stood out with their individual performances.
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Played at the United Cricket Club, Cross Maidan, it was the all important match between two really promising teams namely Shastri Hall Cricket Club and Blue Star Cricket Club where in Blue Star won the toss and elected to bat first considering they have a really good batting line up.
Batting first, Blue Star were struggling at one point after the top order failed to capitalize with their scores reading 36/4 and 72/5 until their experienced all-rounder Rakesh Naik came to the rescue. Rakesh who already proved his mettle in Mumbai cricket with a consistent season both with the bat as well as with the ball in Kanga League made sure he introduced himself to the opponents who were not aware about him. Rakesh brought his team back into the game with a match winning 115* off 127deliveries which included 8fours and 8sixes to anchor his team towards a defendable total of 219/8 in 45 overs. At one point where his team was not looking good for more than 150, Rakesh helped his team make a comeback.
If that was not all, while defending an achievable target of 220, Blue Star CC restricted Shastri Hall Boys to just 171 runs all out. All-rounder Rakesh Naik yielded magic with the ball too after a superlative ton taking a superb 5wkt haul. Rakesh came up with excellent bowling figures of 5/17 in 7.1 overs with his left arm spin which steered his team towards a thumping win. Bluetstar won the match by 48runs and it was certainly their star all-rounder Rakesh Naik who grabbed everyone’s attention!
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