CCI opening batsman scores a composed 85 in the Police Shield’21

Mumbai, February 19: Opener Rudra Dhanday scored a composed 85 runs (80-balls, 10×4, 2×6) which enabled Cricket Club of India (CCI) snatch a nail-biting 2-run victory over Parkophene Cricketers in a tense and concluding round Group-B match of the D.Y. Patil Group sponsored 73^rd Police Invitation Shield Cricket Tournament 2020-2021, organized under the auspices of the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA), and played at the Cricket Club of India ground on Friday.

This crucial second win helped CCI, who had earlier defeated Bombay Gymkhana, scrape past Parkophene into the semi-finals from this group. Both CCI and Parkophene finished with an identical 8 points (2 wins each), but the former qualified for the semis on the head-to-head win basis.

Meanwhile, Parsee Gymkhana (Group-A), Karnatak Sporting Association (Group-C) and Payyade Sports Club (Group-D) all recorded their third consecutive victories to top their respective groups and progress to the semi-finals scheduled to be played on Sunday.

Electing to bat first CCI recovered after losing two wickets with just 49 runs on the board. But opener Dhanday stood tall and steady the innings with a 59-run partnership with Aryan Bangar (24 runs) for the 3^rd wicket and was later associated in a 46-run stand with Ajinkya Patil (23 runs). Later a 48-run 6^th wicket partnership between Alpesh Ramjani (21 runs) and Saksham Parashar (26 runs) saw CCI reach 243 for 9 wickets in 45 overs.

Later, CCI bowled well and backed by excellent fielding managed to restrict Parkophene Cricketers to 241 for 8 wickets in 45 overs. Japjeet Singh Randhawa’s century effort 109 runs (113b, 10×4, 3×6) went in vain. Sagar Mishra 52 runs and Adib Usmani 40 runs did their best to help Parkophene reach their target but they fell short and forced to make an exit. Vaibhav Mali (3/38) was CCI best bowler.

In Group-A, Parsee Gymkhana outplayed Islam Gymkhana coasting to a 6-wicket win, while Karnatak SA continued with their impressive winning form and handed P.J. Hindu Gymkhana a 62-run defeat in Group-C. Payyade also maintained their winning momentum recording a narrow 2-wicket win against D.Y. Patil Group (Sponsor’s XI) in another close match in Group-D.

Brief scores:

Group – A: Dr. D.Y. Patil Sports Academy 258 all out, 41.2 overs (Anand Bous 74, Shubham Ranjane 49; Nikhil Date 3/46) beat MIG Cricket Club 255 for 8 wickets, 45 overs (Gaurav Jathar 81, Swapnil Salvi 68, Arjun Tendulkar 39; Uzair Khan 3/48). Result: Dr. D. Y. Patil SA won by 3 runs.

Islam Gymkhana 190 all out, 42.5 overs (Salman Khan 44*, Aman Farooqui 41; Parag Khanapurkar 3/22, Vikrant Auti 3/28) lost to Parsee Gymkhana 194 for 4 wickets, 28.3 overs (Nikhil Patil (Jr.) 67*, Parag Khanapurkar 39). Result: Parsee Gymkhana won by 6 wickets.

Group-B:

Cricket Club of India 243 for 9 wickets, 45 overs (Rudra Dhanday 85; Vishwajeet Thakur 3/44) beat Parkophene Cricketers 241 for 8, 45 overs (Japjeet Singh Randhawa 109 (113b, 10×4, 3×6), Sagar Mishra 52, Adib Usmani 40; Vaibhav Mali 3/38). Result: Cricket Club of India won by 2 runs.

Bombay Gymkhana 256 for 6 wickets, 45 overs (Bhupen Lalwani 105 (105b, 13×4), Pranav Kela 60; Amit Pandey 3/61) beat Mumbai Police Cricket Club 231 all out, 41.4 overs (Yash Chavan 74, Rohit Pol 31; Yashraj Malap 4/43). Result: Bombay Gymkhana won by 25 runs.

Group-C: Karnatak Sporting Association 236 all out, 44.4 overs (Manan Khakhar 59, Aishwarya Surve 49; Amanullah Manihar 3/44) beat P.J. Hindu Gymkhana 174 all out, 38.4 overs (Utkarsh Raut 43*, Megh Adhvaryu 40; Vinayak Bhoir 4/27). Result: Karnatak Sporting Association won by 62 runs.

National Cricket Club 334 for 9 wickets, 45 overs (Ajinkya Beloshe 54, Prathmesh Pawar 51, Shashikant Kadam 49*; Akshay Jambhekar 3/48, Nehal Katakdhond 3/55) beat New Hind Sporting Club 239 all out, 39.5 overs (Avdhoot Dandekar 62, Bhavin Thakkar 61; Shashikant Kadam 3/39). Result: National Cricket Club won by 95 runs.

Group-D: MCA Colts 281 for one wicket, 40 overs (Siddharth Akre 138* (95b, 8×4, 11×6), Divyansh Saxena 108* (102b, 8×4, 3×6) beat Shivaji Park Gymkhana 240 all out, 36.3 overs (Jayesh Pokhare 85, Ninad Kadam 52, Vedant Murkar 41; Danish Shaikh 3/36, Siddharth Akre 3/40). Result: MCA Colts won by 41 runs.

D.Y. Patil Group (Sponsor’s XI): 265 all out, 45 overs (Sumit Ghadigaonkar 104 (106b, 6×4, 5×6), Rohan Raje 3/38) lost to Payyade Sports Club 269 for 8 wickets, 44.5 overs (Rohan Raje 81, Siddhesh Lad 78, Prayag Bhati 44; Vineet Sinha 3/49). Result: Payyade Sports Club won by 2 wickets.

Semi-final line-up:

Parsee Gymkhana Vs Payyade SC at MCA ground, BKC

CCI Vs Karnatak SA at Mumbai Police Gymkhana ground.

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