Parsee Gymkhana opener Aakarshit Gomel’s impressive unbeaten knock of 65 runs, all-rounder Aman Khan’s fine performances 41 runs and two wickets for 24 runs and combined by their cool demeanour, they managed to clinch a tight 1-run victory against Greater Mumbai Police Gymkhana in a semi-final match of the 69th Nawab Salar Jung Invitation T20 Cricket Tournament, which is being organised by the Islam Gymkhana under the auspices of the Mumbai Cricket Association, at the Islam Gymkhana ground on Friday.
Aakarshit Gomel
The scorching afternoon heat seemed to have no affect on the Parsee Gymkhana team, who after being put in to bat first managed to score 173 runs for the loss 5 wickets from 20 overs. Later, they maintained a cool composure and with some tight, tidy bowling which was backed by excellent fielding they managed to arrest the Policemen’s charge to victory by restricting them to 172 runs for the loss of 8 wickets from their quota of 20 overs.
Defending champions Parsee Gym were provided with a solid start by Gomel who batted freely. His unconquered innings came from 53 balls and was studded with 4 hits to the fence and 2 big sixes. He was associated in two partnerships, 60 runs for the first wicket with Bhavish Shetty 40 (26b, 4×4, 2×6) and later 59 runs for the 2nd wicket with Khan who struck 2 fours and an equal number of sixes during his 22-ball knock, which propped the Parsee Gym innings. For the cops, Yogesh Jagtap (2/36) and Santosh Shinde (1/29) got the wickets.
In reply, Mumbai Police started shakily as they lost half the side for a paltry 51 runs in the 7th over. But then the sixth wicket pair of Shrikant Limbole 54 runs (40 balls, 5×6) and Hymayun Hirapure 38 runs (29 balls, 2×4, 3×6) arrested the slide with some steady batting and they put together a 93-run stand to take the Policemen within distance of reaching the victory target as they required 30 runs from 18 balls.
The Parsee Gym bowlers held their nerves in the tense last 3 overs and managed to come out trumps as the Policemen were unable to hit the big ones which would have carried them past the finish line. Medium pacers Manish Rao (3/25), Aman Khan (2/24) were the key bowlers to get the wickets.
In the final, Parsee Gymkhana will take on the winners of the second semi-final to be played between Payyade CC and Young Mohammedan CC on Sunday.
Brief scores: Parsee Gymkhana 173 for 5 wickets, 20 overs (Aakarshit Gomel 65*(53balls, 93 mts, 4×4, 2×6), Bhavish Shetty 40(26b, 4×4, 2×6), Aman Khan 41 (22b, 2×4, 2×6); Yogesh Jagtap 2/36, Santosh Shinde 1/29) beat Greater Mumbai Police Gym 172 for 8 wickets, 20 overs (Shrikant Limbole 54 (40b, 5×6), Humayun Hirapure 38 (29b, 2×4, 3×6), Yash Chavan 23 (11b, 1×4, 2×6); Manish Rao 3/25, Aman Khan 2/24). Result: Parsee Gym won by 1 run.