Home favourites CCI ‘Prezmen’ and MCF ‘Tough ‘Men’ in convincing fashion won their respective semi-final encounters to set up a clash for the top honours in the CCI Kekoo Nicholson BSAM Billiards League 2018.
Hasan Badami
The Cricket Club of India outfit Prezmen playing with a combined team handicap of 55 points did well to brush aside the challenge from PCL ‘Beach Boys’, who started with a better handicap of 80, by 600-436 victory in the race to 600 points, three frames semi-final, match at the CCI Wilson Jones Billiards Room late on Saturday evening.
In the other semi-final, played on a side table, the MCF (Mandpeshwar Civic Federation) team with a low team handicap of 20 points halted the good run of ECC ‘Elfies Thunderbolts’ (handicap 70) as they coasted to a 600-209 victory.
CCI’s consistent performer Hasan Badami churned out another impressive display to once again provide his team with a favourable start. Badami, playing with a scratch handicap, played steadily and with the help of a 52 break went on to defeat Beach Boys’ captain Amit Sapru (+15) by a 41 points difference, 200-159 in the first frame. Badami’s margin of victory wiped out Park Club’s 25 points advantage at the start and secured a 16 points lead for the home side.
Later, CCI young cueist Sparsh Pherwani (+20) played confidently and grabbed his chances against the experienced Vishal Gehani (+15), for whom the balls did not roll too kindly. Pherwani with a couple of small efforts managed to stay in front and open up a 142-96 lead before Gehani, who utilised the cushions perfectly to make some fine cannons managed to finally stitch together a 28 break to draw level. But, Pherwani produced two useful runs of 28 and an unfinished break of 30 to complete a satisfying 200-143 win in the second frame. The 57 points margin of victory consolidated CCI’s advantage to 73 points, which left their skipper Nishant Dossa (+35) to score only 127 points as compared to the 200 points Sanjiv Bijlani (+50) required to score to ensure a win for Beach Boys.
But just as Dossa looked to be smoothly cruising towards his target, Bijlani threatened to make a fight as he compiled a neat 61 break. However, Dossa with some safety and steady play made certain of crossing the finish line to take his team to the final.
In the second match, MCF riding on the brilliant efforts from seasoned cueists, Chandu Kansodaria and captain Rohan Jambusaria, both winning their respective frames by handsome margins charged to victory. Kansodaria (+10) defeated teenager Rayaan Razmi (+30) 200-103 in the first frame before Jambusaria (-60) tamed Anurag Bagri (+30) 200-87 to give their team a massive 160 points cushion going into the third and final frame. Akshay Gogri (+70) played fluently against seasoned pro Farhad Tengra (+10) and scored the 40 points to seal MCF’s victory and provide them another shot at winning their maiden title. MCF ‘Tough Men’ were runners-up in 2015 and 2016 and had lost in the semi-finals last year.
Results – semi-finals: CCI ‘Prezmen’ (handicap 55) beat PCL ‘Beach Boys’ (handicap 80) 600-436 (Hasan Badami (scratch) bt Amit Sapru (+15) 200(52)-159, Sparsh Pherwani (+20) bt Vishal Gehani (+15) 200-143, Nishant Dossa (+35) bt Sanjiv Bijlani (+50) 127-134(61).
MCF ‘Tough Men’ (handicap 20) beat ECC ‘Elfies Thunderbolts’ (handicap 70) 600-209 (Chandu Kansodaria (+10) bt Rayaan Razmi (+30) 200(56)-103, Rohan Jambusaria (-60) bt Anurag Bagri (+30) 200-87, Akshay Gogri (+70) bt Farhad Tengra (+10) 40-19).