P.J. Hindu Gymkhana powered by superb half century knocks from Bravish Shetty 72 runs (38-balls, 7x4s,5x6s) and Vinayak Bhoir 52 runs (33-balls, 3x4s,3x6s) pulled off a 21-run win against defending champions Cricket Club of India in a semi-final match of the Bombay Gymkhana Ltd. organized Nirlon-R.F.S.-Talyarkhan Memorial Invitation Cricket Tournament 2022-2023 and played at the Bombay Gymkhana ground.
Meanwhile, former champions Parsee Gymkhana snatched a tight 1-wicket win against Islam Gymkhana in another high-scoring second semi-final match.
Sent in to bat, Hindu Gymkhana posted a mammoth total of 205 for 5 wickets from their 20 overs. Besides Shetty and Bhoir efforts Siddhesh Lad contributed a sedate 45 runs (82-balls, 6x4s) to boost the innings. CCI’s Irfan Malik finished with 2 wickets for 14 runs.
CCI cashing a stiff target, lost early wickets before middle-order bat Sujit Nayak’s quick 48-balls 84 runs and Akash Parkar’s 19-ball 34 runs, put their innings back on track, but they were unable to cross the finish line as their innings closed at 184 for 6 wickets, 20 overs and had to make their exit. Left-arm spinner Rahul Sawant was responsible to restrict CCI and finished with figures of 3 for 32 runs.
Parsee Gymkhana deciding to field saw Islam Gymkhana charge to substantial score of 175 for 7 wickets from their 20 overs. Opener Karan Shah 64 runs (32-balls, 6x4s,3x6s), Sarfaraz Khan 44 runs (39-balls, 3x4s) and Swapnil Salvi 24 (18-balls, 3x4s,1x6s) propped the Islam Gymkhana total. Siddharth Raut claimed two wickets for 34 runs.
In response, Parsee Gymkhana scrapped through making 176 for 9 wickets in 19.5 overs. A half-century knock from Aman Khan 54 runs (22-balls, 7x4s,3x6s), Sachin Yadav 42 runs (31-balls, 2×4,2x6s) and Shams Mulani 23 runs enabled Parsee Gymkhana reach the winning target. Nadeem Shaikh 3 for 20 and Sagar Jadhav 2 for 40 were Islam Gymkhana’s best bowlers.
Brief scores – Semi-finals: P.J. Hindu Gymkhana 205 for 5 wickets, 20 overs (Bravish Shetty 72 (38-balls, 7×4,5×6), Vinayak Bhoir 52 (33-balls, 3x4s,3x6s), Siddhesh Lad 45 (82-balls, 6x4s); Irfan Malik 2/14) beat CCI (Sujit Nayak 84 (48-balls,5x4s,6x6s), Akash Parkar 34 (19-balls,3x4s,1x6s), Anand Bais 26; Rahul Sawant 3/32). Result: Hindu Gymkhana won by 21 runs.
Islam Gymkhana 175 for 7 wickets, 20 overs (Karan Shah 64 (32-balls, 6x4s,3x6s), Sarfaraz Khan 44 (39-balls, 3x4s), Swapnil Salvi 24 (18-balls, 3x4s,1x6s), Siddharth Raut 2/34) lost to Parsee Gymkhana 176 for 9 wickets, 19.5 overs (Aman Khan 54 (22-balls, 7x4s,3x6s), Sachin Yadav 42 (31-balls, 2×4,2x6s), Shams Mulani 23; Nadeem Shaikh 3/20, Sagar Jadhav 2/40). Result: Parsee Gymkhana won by one wicket.