CRICKETGRAPH Top 5 All-round performances in Mumbai Cricket for the month of February 2018
To be featured in the top 5 is surely a moment of pride as these 5-6 players usually are amongst the best from hundreds of performances played in that particular month and it indirectly shows the amount of talent and class these players have.
Taking into consideration various factors as always like the level of opposition, the level of tournament, the wicket, the match situation, the intensity of the game and the pressure, we come up with the top 5 from a lot of numerous promising performances in Mumbai.
The top 5 all-round performances for the month of Feb are mentioned below:
Joint 5th– Rahul Sawant(RHB & Spinner)- 5/37 and 45, Times Cricket Shield ‘18
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 . 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.
While chasing 185, 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 their all-rounder Rahul Sawant who stood out with excellent all-round show bagging 5wkts while also top scoring with the bat.
5th– Akshay Darekar(SLA)- 6/65 & 32*, Young Comrade Shield Tournament ‘18
Played at the Sydenham College Gymkhana at Oval Maidan, it was a match between two promising teams namely Shivaji Park Youngsters and Dadar Union where in Shivaji Park Youngsters won the toss and elected to bat first.
Their decision to bat was first was not exactly accurate as Shivaji Park youngsters were restricted to a modest total of 259 in 68.2 overs. The bowler who bamboozled the batsman was this 29yr old Akshay who has been an experienced warhorse by now coming up with excellent bowling figures of 6/65 in 20.2 overs. Akshay who has played 47 First Class games showed how potent he can be with the ball as kept on bowling in the right areas with discipline which fetched rewards for him as well as his team.
Chasing 260, they were struggling on 6/62 at one point but it was Akshay Darekar (32*) and Tanush Kotian with 47 saved the grace by not letting their team get all out in two figures. Dadar Union were all out for 159 and lost the match by 110runs but Akshay surely stood amongst the 22boys who were part of that match with his all-round perfomance.
4th-Aditya Dhumal(SLA & RHB)- 54 & 5/21, Young Comrade Shield Tournament ‘18
Played at the New Hind Sports Club, Dadkar Maidan, it was the all important match between two really promising teams namely Maskati Cricket Club and Sind Sports Club where in Sind SC elected to bat first.
Their decision to bat first was completely spot on Sind SC notched up a mammoth total of 407/9 on the back of flying start by the openers & especially their left-handed opener Akhil Rajput who went on to score a thumping ton. Apart from them, all-rounder Aditya Dhumal(54 off 51b) and Vaibhav Singh(54 off 41b) at the middle order smashed crucial fifties which took their team total to cross the 400run mark.
Defending a big total of 402, Maskati fell prey to the quality bowlers of Sind SC & especially their experienced all-rounder Aditya Dhumal who once again showed his experience. Aditya came up with match winning bowling figures of 5/21 in 13overs with 6maidens which inflicted maximum damage to the Maskati batting line up. Aditya who bats equally well is a genuine all-rounder and this is not the 1st time he has come up with such amazing bowling figures. Sind SC won the match by 252runs and it was definitely Aditya who played a big role in the win.
3rd– Prasad Chandra(SLA)- 5/35 and 46, Thane Vaibhav Tournament’ 18 (Finals)
Delivering in the finals from all cylinders is very difficult and though Prasad’s team lost the match but he won the hearts of many with his all-round perfomance. Played at the Central Maidan in Thane, it was the all important finals between Valuable Sports Club and Reliance Group Sports Club wherein Valuable Sports club won the toss and elected to bat first and scored 215/10 in 35overs. Slow left-arm spinner Prasad Chandra was really impressive with the ball coming up with excellent bowling figures of 5/35 in 7 overs. Prasad bowled in the right areas while troubled the batsman with his wily spin which helped him take a superb 5wkt haul.
The finals was perfectly intense and it remained a thrilled till the very end where in Reliance gave a tough fight to Valuable CC. The match was so exciting that no one could guess the winner till the very last ball. Prashant Jangam(44), Mayuresh Tandel(43) and all-rounder Prasad Chandra(46) came up with crucial 40’s but eventually Reliance lost the match by just 1run where in the last ball took away the results in Valuable CC’s favor.
Prasad Chandra’s all-round contribution in the match was really commendable and he certainly won the hearts of many even though his team fell short of mere a run to clinch the title.
2nd– Raunaq Sharma (RHB)- 178 and 4wkts, Young Comrade Shield Tournament ‘18
Played at the P.J Hindu Gymkhana at Marine Lines, it was a high octane match consisting of two really talented teams namely Parsee Gymkhana and Islam Gymkhana wherein Parsee Gymkhana who have a strong batting line up elected to bat first in order to make a big 1st innings total.
Even though Parsee Gymkhana were off to a shaky start but all-rounder Raunaq Sharma who came in at no.3 played a gem of a knock smashing a superlative 178 off mere 141balls which took the game completely away from Islam Gymkhana. Raunaq who smashed 21 fours and 7 sixes completely demolished the opposition bowlers with his counter attacking cricket stamping his class in almost every corner of the ground taking the team total to 369/10 in 69.1 overs.
Chasing 370, Islam Gymkhana were all out for 282runs where in Raunak scalped 4wkts with the ball completely owning the day and proving everyone how potent an all-rounder he can be. It was a commendable win for Parsee Gymkhana and it was certainly Raunaq who stole the limelight with his excellent all-round display.
AND FINALLY THE NO.1
1st– Rakesh Naik(RHB & SLA)- 105 and 5/ 69, Mumbai Junior Shield ‘18
Scoring a hundred and taking a 5wkt haul is a very rare feat in cricket & dependable all-rounder Rakesh Naik registered his name into this elite list of Mumbai Cricket History where he achieved this feat. Played at the United Cricket Club, Cross Maidan, it was the all important match between Shastri Hall Cricket Club and Blue Star Cricket Club where in Blue Star won the toss and elected to bat first.
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 at one stageuntil 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!
CRICKETGRAPH
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