RBI Bank Shield Cricket Tournament 2023-2024
Bank of Baroda Sports Club emerged champions defeating New India Assurance Sports Club by a narrow three-wickets in thrilling Elite Division finals of the 62nd Sir Benegal Rama Rau Bank Shield Cricket Tournament 2024, organised by Reserve Bank of India under the aegis of the Mumbai Cricket Association and played at the Mumbai Police Gymkhana ground, Marine Drive on Wednesday evening.
Chief Guest Shri Shaktikanta Das (centre), Governor, Reserve Bank of India presents the handsome winners’ trophy to the players of the victorious Bank of Baroda team. Also seen is Aviral Jain, President, RBI Sports Club and Ajay Kumar, Executive Director, RBI.
Earlier, CitiBank Sports Club clinched the Plate Division title defeating ICICI Bank Sports Club by a convincing five-wickets. ICICI Bank SC could only muster to score 119 runs for the loss of nine wickets from their 20 overs. In response, CitiBank comfortably chased down the winning target, scoring 123 runs for the loss of five wickets in 19 overs.
New India Assurance, electing to bat after winning the toss, managed to post a competitive total of 151 for the loss of seven wickets from their stipulated 20 overs. The top scorers from New India Assurance was number four bat Manish Shetty who struck 43 runs (42-balls, 4×4,2×6), Mayank Bhardwaj 29 runs and a blistering knock from lower order batsman Rahit Yadav who cracked three sixes and a solitary boundary in scoring a quick unbeaten 27 runs from just 10 balls to prop the total.
Bank of Baroda’s medium pace bowlers Zaid Patankar two for 26 and Krutik Hanagavadi two for 33 were responsible for picking crucial wickets and restricting the New India Assurance innings to a modest total.
Later, Bank of Baroda’s skipper Rahul Dalal batted responsibly in scoring 53 runs (36-balls, 4×4,3×6), while opening bat Akash Anand and middle-order batter Jay Jain both contributed 21 runs each. Number eight batsman Sagar Chabria played confidently slamming an unbeaten 19 runs (14-balls, 4×4) and guided Bank of Baroda to victory. New India Assurance’s left-arm spinner Akash Sharma two for 25, Off-spinner Ihsaan Amin 2 for 27 and leg-spinner Suraj Kurmi 2 for 35 managed to get the wickets.
Chief Guest, Shri Shaktikanta Das, Governor, Reserve Bank of India presented the handsome winners’ trophy to the players of the victorious Bank of Baroda and CitiBank SC teams.
Rahul Dalal of Bank of Baroda won the ‘Man of the final’ award, while the Governor’s Man of the Tournament awards was won by Akash Sharma of New India Assurance in the Elite Division.
In the Plate Division, the ‘Man of the final’ award was won by Shashank Shetty of CitiBank SC and Sahil Madgaonkar of ICICI Bank bagged the ‘Governor’s Man of the Tournament’ award.
Brief scores – Elite Division (final): New India Assurance SC 151 for 7, 20 overs (Manish Yadav 43, Mayank Bhardwaj 29, Rohit Yadav 27* 10-balls, 1×4,3×6); Zaid Patankar 2/26, Krutik Hanagavadi 2/33) lost to Bank of Baroda SC 153 for 7, 19.5 overs (Rahul Dalal 53 (36-balls, 4x43x6), Akash Anand 21, Jay Jain 21, Sagar Chabria 19* (14-balls, 4×4); Akash Sharma 2/25, Ihsaan Amin 2/27, Suraj Kurmi 2/35). Result: Bank of Baroda won by three wickets.
Individual awards – Man of the final: Rahul Dalal (Bank of Baroda).
Governor’s Man of the Tournament: Akash Sharma (New India Assurance).
Brief scores – Plate Division (final): ICICI Bank 119 for 9, 20 overs (Kanchan Rangnath 29, (MP)-Saurav Tendulkar 28; (OS)-Shashank Shetty 3/22, (LS)-Vinayak Pillai 1/12, Rohan Sawant 2/18) lost to CitiBank SC 123 for 5, 19 overs ((Capt)-Rahul Soni 42 (31-balls, 6×4,1×6), Puneet Gamnani 29; (OS)-Aniket Kshirsagar 2/11). Result: CitiBank SC won by five wickets.
Individual awards – Man of the final: Shashank Shetty (CitiBank SC).
Governor’s Man of the Tournament: Sahil Madgaonkar (ICICI Bank).