A superb all-round performance by Shoeb Khan, who took 3 wickets for 9 runs and then scored an unbeaten 45 runs was the highlight of Dharamji Morarji CC’s fluent 10-wicket victory against Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in the opening Elite Category Group-B match of the 10th Insurance Shield T20 Inter-Office Cricket Tournament, organised by Oriental Insurance under the aegis of MCA (Mumbai Cricket Association) and to be played at the National CC ground, Cross Maidan on Tuesday.
Dharamji Morarji decided to field restricted RBI to 93 for 9 wickets from 20 overs. Shoeb received good support from Prathmesh Belchada who claimed 2 wickets for 17 runs. In reply, Dharamji Morarji easily reached 94 runs without losing a wicket. Openers Shoeb (45 runs, 43-balls, 5x4s) and Lalit Sharma 40 runs (37-balls, 2x4s, 1×6) steered Dharamji to victory.
In the other match, Mumbai Police CC ‘B’ recorded a 4-wicket win against Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL). Mumbai Police bowlers Ajinkya Deshmukh (2 for 12) and Amit Jadhav (2 for 19) restricted HPCL to 107 for 7 wickets in 20 overs. Later, Mumbai Police lost early wickets before number 6 bat Rishi More 31 runs not out and number 7 bat Pradnesh Lad 32 runs helped the policemen snatch a tense win.
Brief scores
Elite Category – Group-B: Reserve Bank of India 93 for 9 wickets, 20 overs (Shoeb Khan 3/9, Prathmesh Belchada 2/17) lost to Dharamji Morarji CC 94 for no loss, 12.3 overs (Shoeb Khan 45 not out, Lalit Sharma 40 not out). Result: Dharamji Morarji CC won by 10 wickets.
HPCL CC 107 for 7 wickets, 20 overs (Bhargav Patil 34, Aniket Singh 28; Ajinkya Deshmukh 2/12, Amit Jadhav 2/19) lost to Mumbai Police CC ‘B’ 109 for 6 wickets, 16.5 overs (Rishi More 31 not out, Pradnesh Lad 32; Aakash Mishra 3/29). Result: Mumbai Police CC won by 4 wickets.
Plate Category – Group-A: General Insurance Company 139 for 9 wickets, 20 overs (Jairaj Chitnis 37; Sandip Desai 2/21, Umesh Jare 2/22, Suraj Kakade 2/29) beat Life Insurance Corporation CC 69 all out, 16.4 overs (Kiran D 3/11, Varun Bhardwaj 3/14). Result: GIC CC won by 70 runs.