Firm favourites Payyade Sports Club will encounter a strong challenge Cricket Club of India (CCI) as the two teams clash for supremacy in the final of the D.Y. Patil Group sponsored 73rd Police Invitation Shield Cricket Tournament 2020-2021, organized under the auspices of the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA), and to be played at the Mumbai Police Gymkhana ground, Marine Drive on Sunday.
The former two-time champions Payyade SC with consistent performance have so far have been the most successful team in the competition. They won all their three matches in Group-B and comfortably defeated Parsee Gymkhana in the semi-finals.
In contrast, seven-time champions CCI, recovered strongly from a shaky start as they suffered a defeat in the second Group-B match against Mumbai Police CC, but they bounced back in style by defeating Parkophene Cricketers by a narrow two runs margin in the concluding Group-B encounter to sneak into the semi-finals. In the penultimate round CCI easily defeated Karnatak SA by 77 runs to charge into the final and a shot at winning their eighth crown. CCI had emerged champions in 1952, 1971, 1993, 1994, 2002, 2007 and 2008.
Payyade, who were champions in 2011 and 2012, will have to maintain their winning form if they hope to clinch their third title. They will once again bank on their batting strength to come out trumps. Opener Hersh Tank who smashed 116 runs in the last match will again have to lead from the front to provide Payyade with the perfect start. Raunaq Sharma, Siddhesh Lad, Prayag Bhati, Rohan Raje and Musheer Khan are the other batsmen who have been in form and they will have to play good supporting roles. All-rounders Rohan Raj and Dhrumil Matkar along with left-arm spinners Badre Alam Khan and Dhrumil Matkar will shoulder the bowling department.
Meanwhile, CCI will depend on their tried and trusted batters Rudra Dhanday, Nishad Gabhawala, Akash Anand and Kruthik Hanagavadi to provide solidity to the innings by getting the runs on the board. Their bowling will be taken care of by medium pacer Pratamesh Dake and left-arm spinners Vaibhav Mali and Alpesh Ramjani, both having consistently picked the wickets.
Former Indian cricket captain Dilip Vengsarkar is the Chief Guest and in presence of Commissioner of Police, Mumbai, Param Bir Singh will preside over the prize distribution function and hand over the trophies to the Champions and Runner-up.