Bolstered by the brilliant batting performance of Ruturaj Mungekar who smashed a solid 64-ball unbeaten century 116 runs, Mumbai Police Cricket Club ‘B’ team emerged champions defeating BEST Arts & Sports Club by a comfortable 66-run margin in the final of the Insurance Shield T20 Cricket Tournament, played at the National CC ground, Cross Maidan on Friday. This tournament resumed early this week after it was halted due to the Covid-19 lockdown since last March.
The victorious Mumbai Police Cricket Club ‘B’ team pose with the ‘champions’ trophy after defeating BEST Arts & Sports Club by a comfortable 66-run margin in the final of the Insurance Shield T20 Cricket tournament.
BEST deciding to field first after winning the toss managed to get an early breakthrough when Mumbai Police opening batsman Rohan Bhosale was dismissed caught and bowled by Pravin Pednekar on the third ball of the innings and the scoreboard blank. But, thereafter, the Policemen recovered quickly from that setback as the other opener Mungekar made merry in the middle belting the rival bowlers to all corners of the ground and his knock helped Mumbai Police amass a challenge total of 193 runs for the loss of just 4 wickets from their stipulated 20 overs.
Winners of the Individual awards, Mumbai Police trio of Ruturaj Mungekar (Man-of-the-Series), Tanmay Mayekar (Best Batsman) and Yogesh Jagtap (Best Bowler).
Mungekar during his 85 minutes at the crease cracked nine sweetly timed hits to the boundary and powerfully struck a half dozen sixes. He shared a 73-run partnership with Tanmay Mayekar (39 runs) for the second wicket and was later involved in a 78-run association with Mansingh Chavan (16 runs) for the third wicket. Pravin Pednekar (2 for 23 runs) was BEST’s most successful bowler.
Chasing a stiff target, BEST batsmen failed to raise to the challenge as they lost four early wickets for just nine runs from the first four overs. The initial damage proved to be a big blow as they were unable to steady the innings. A late fightback from lower order batter Ketan Dhatavkar who scored an unbeaten 51 runs and Nilesh Kharmale 34 runs lifted their innings which closed at 127 for loss of 7 wickets from 20 overs. Prashant More (3 for 6 runs) and Yogesh Jagtap (2 for 24 runs) shared the spoils.
There was more to cheer for the Mumbai Police outfit as Ruturaj Mungekar was declared as the ‘Man-of-the-Series’, Tanmay Mayekar was adjudged as the ‘Best Batsman’ and Yogesh Jagtap won the ‘Best Bowler’ award.
Brief scores: Mumbai Police Cricket Club ‘B’. 193 for 4 wickets, 20 overs (Ruturaj Mungekar 116* (64balls, 9×4, 6×6), Tanmay Mayekar 39; Pravin Pednekar 2/23) beat BEST Arts & Sports Club 127 for 7 wickets, 20 overs (Ketan Dhatavkar 51*, Nilesh Kharmale 34; Prashant More 3/6, Yogesh Jagtap 2/24).
Result: Mumbai Police Cricket Club ‘B’ won by 66 runs.
Individual awards:
Man-of-the-Series: Ruturaj Mungekar (Mumbai Police).
Best Batsman: Tanmay Mayekar (Mumbai Police).
Best Bowler: Yogesh Jagtap (Mumbai Police).