Rakesh Naik’s 139 powers Bhama CC to a 287-run win

Riding on Rakesh Naik’s power-packed batting performance, Bhama Cricket Club decimated Sportsmen Cricket Club (Kalyan) by 287 runs on January 28 at Azad Maidan.

Batting first, Bhama Cricket Club piled up a mammoth 386 in 45 overs at the loss of just three wickets. Opening batter Jai Bakshi (54 runs off 37 balls; 4×8) crafted a scintillating half-century to lay a solid foundation. Later, Shivank Rao (153 not out off 128 balls; 4×15, 6×3) and Naik (139 not out off 97 balls; 4×15, 6×8) stitched a match-winning 289-run partnership for the fourth wicket to steer their team to a formidable total.

In the earlier matches, left-handed batter Naik had missed out on scoring back-to-back centuries after getting out on 98 and 95. However, in this match, he was determined to achieve the milestone. The southpaw entertained with a stroke-filled innings. He has been in red-hot form in this ongoing tournament and is also the top run-getter.

After doing his job with the bat, Naik, a left-arm spinner, contributed with the ball, claiming 1/8 in four overs, including one maiden. Bhama Cricket Club bundled our Sportsmen Cricket Club (Kalyan) for a miserly 99 in 30.5 overs.